Recap provided by 93.7 The Fan:

During his radio show on The Fan Tuesday, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says Sunday’s victory against the New England Patriots was the definition of a complete team win.

“It just felt like everybody contributed. It might not have been a spectacular day on anybody’s front but it was a pretty good offensive day. It sounds crazy because he didn’t score all the points we wanted to score and things like that but, just guys making plays,” said Roethlisberger.

Running back Jaylen Samuels had a big day filling in for the injured James Conner with 142 rushing yards on 19 carries. Roethlisberger says other than not picking up on a blitz that lead to a sack during the second drive, the rookie had a great day.

“After that (sack) I thought (he) did do some good things, picking up the blitz . . . and so the way that he played really I think will help his confidence and help him to continue to grow and we can continue to use him, that’s fun to see.”

Receiver James Washington, who Ben singled out a few weeks ago, had his biggest game so far this season with three catches for 65 yards.

“I thought that James made some huge plays for us. The one down the sideline tracking the ball, going up, high-pointing it, thought that was great. Then he had a catch and (broke) a tackle (for a) run. He starting to play with confidence and when I said that to him a few weeks ago, ‘get your confidence back’, he’s showing that,” said Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger was criticized for his strong criticism of Washington after the team’s loss to Denver but Ben says he knew Washington would use it to improve.

“That’s why I didn’t get too worked up when the outside world called me out for saying what I did to him because they don’t know what’s going on. You know there’s the talking heads and the “professionals” on ESPN and they think they know, but they really don’t know what’s going on inside our locker room so I am just so proud of (Washington).”

Before the game even started Roethlisberger says that they decided there weren’t going to be any individual player introductions and that he and center Maurkice Pouncey decided […]

“It’s not about me and beating the Patriots and beating Tom Brady. It’s about the Pittsburgh Steelers winning a big football game. That’s the only thing that matters to me.” — Ben.

Respect. pic.twitter.com/W58NSYuFYr

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 17, 2018

“Good team effort. It was going to be required. I like the no blink and supportive approach of the team in all three phases. We all had moments where we didn’t get it done. But we all had moments where we uplifted the other phases. That is what team is. We did what we had to do. Guys made plays. We are appreciative of the efforts, thankful to get the win, assess it and get ready to move on to the next challenge this journey possesses.” — Coach Tomlin.

@_BigBen7 @steelers BIG Win!!! pic.twitter.com/6M1AzHAqW2

— Robert Wein (@rmweinjr) December 17, 2018

“With the team’s eighth win of the year, #Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger ensured a non-losing record for the 15th time in his 15 seasons in the NFL.” — Burt Lauten, Steelers Director of Communications.

Ben Roethlisberger now has 30 touchdown passes in 2018 to mark the third season of his career with at least 30 scoring tosses (2007 and 2014: 32). pic.twitter.com/hTBzCSl3E1

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 16, 2018

“That last downfield gain by Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger was off a broken play, off script. That’s when the duo is at its best.” — Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com.

@steelers @SteelerNationMN @AB84 @_BigBen7 Great win tonight! My husband and daughter flew in from Minnesota! #SteelersVsPatriots #GoSteelers pic.twitter.com/ydJ58HVDPq

— Kelli Hoeppner (@KelliHoeppner) December 17, 2018

“I thought [Jaylen Samuels’] whole game was awesome. He caught the ball, he ran. The way that he stepped up was special and James Washington as well. The plays that he made were just huge today for us and big plays for us…I thought guys answered the bell today!” — Ben.

Big shout to the DEFENSE y’all went CRAZY!!! BIG WIN!!! #SteelersNation pic.twitter.com/fEeilpx9xM

— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) December 17, 2018

“This was going to be a great challenge for us […]

“That’s a tough kid. I don’t know if he gets enough credit for all the things that he does. Runs when he has to, stands in the pocket, gives his receivers time, makes throws under pressure, people hanging on him, consistently the target every defense tries to attack. … He doesn’t give you many chances [for interceptions]. He uses the tight ends, the backs as well as the receivers. He’s got a lot of options. Makes a lot of good decisions on getting the ball to who has the best opportunity in space in coverage or the best matchup.” — Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

From Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com:

Very few humans can shuffle frantically to the left to avoid a sack and rip a fastball 45 yards between two Los Angeles Chargers defenders for an Antonio Brown touchdown the way Ben Roethlisberger did in Week 13.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner had that play fresh in his mind as he described the eye-popping — and sometimes head-scratching — duality of Roethlisberger’s confidence as a thrower.

“Sometimes you want to say, ‘Where did that come from?. And then other times you’re like, ‘Where did that come from?’ I mean, it’s just a matter of how you say it.” — Randy Fichtner.

As the Steelers try to strengthen their playoff hopes with a win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, they will place the football in the hands of a quarterback who wins, dazzles and throws interceptions like few others.

In a new era of NFL passers that features human rifles (Patrick Mahomes), RPO wizards (Deshaun Watson) and other 7-on-7 disciples, Roethlisberger might be the last true extension of Brett Favre, whose penchant for picks and big plays embodied the throwback “gunslinger” mantra.

“I’m a quarterback that is going to go out and sling it. You talk about gunslinger or whatever you want to talk about. I’m not going to worry about interceptions. I hate doing them. They bother me. But I’m going to go out and play my game and try to help us win football games.” — Roethlisberger, on his weekly radio show in November.

Two different coaches interviewed for this story brought up the Favre comparison unprompted. One’s a Hall of Famer, the other will surely become one after retirement.

Roethlisberger ranks top five in […]

Recap from the Steelers’ Teresa Varley:

After losing the last three games, the Steelers still hold on to first place in the AFC North at 7-5-1, with Baltimore breathing down their necks with a 7-6 record. Winning out is key, and it all begins this week against the Patriots at Heinz Field.

“It’s always a big game,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “They’re the best for a reason and everyone wants to go after them. They are fun, they are physical, a big challenge for us. It hasn’t been a big challenge for them, but for us it has been.”

The Patriots have won the last five meetings against the Steelers, and nine of the last 12 since Roethlisberger was drafted in 2004.

“The Patriots are one of the best teams for a reason. We are not the only team that has issues with them,” said Roethlisberger. “They’re that good. The past is the past, we can only focus on this week.”

The struggles of the last three weeks are something that Roethlisberger admits is frustrating, especially after riding a six-game win streak previously.

“It’s very frustrating. You want to win them all, but you understand you can’t,” said Roethlisberger. “We can only control this week. We have had opportunities. We just for whatever reason haven’t found a way to do it. I don’t think it’s from a lack of sense of urgency. It could be lack of execution, lack of one thing here or there. We understand what it takes to get it done. We just have to do it.

“We realize what’s at stake. Not panic. It’s not going to get any easier.”

The one thing he doesn’t want there to be any confusion over, is that frustration means there is any lack of confidence. Roethlisberger knows what the team is capable of. He said there is no lack of confidence. It’s just a matter now of going out and getting it done.

“I think it’s understanding what we need to do, facing adversity in the face and just getting ready for one of the biggest challenges we have had all year.”


You can watch Ben’s interview here.

You can read more from Ms. Varley here.

Recap provided by 93.7 The Fan:

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he is still supports Chris Boswell as the kicker’s struggles continued Sunday in the team’s loss to the Oakland Raiders.

On the #1 Cochran Ben Roethlisberger Show Tuesday, Roethlisberger says Boswell was pretty down on himself after the game.

“I never heard anybody say anything negative to him, I never heard anybody yell make the (kick).”

Roethlisberger adds the Boswell needs to have the same confidence that he and the rest of the Steelers do.

“I just kind of put my hand on his back and said, ‘Hey, keep your head up. We’re going to need you at some point’ and hopefully he heard the words,” said Roethlisberger. “I haven’t lost confidence in him. I still think every time he lines up it’s going to go in. He needs to have that same confidence and I hope he does.”


You can listen to Ben’s full show here.