And three storylines to come out of this Christmas night game:


Ben is Digest Player of the Week

From Bob Labriola at Steelers.com:

This is what franchise quarterbacks do. This is why Ben Roethlisberger deserves to be recognized as a franchise quarterback.



Trailing 17-10 when the fourth quarter began and then by 20-10 shortly thereafter, Roethlisberger directed the Steelers on three touchdown drives – of 75 yards, then 90 yards, then 75 yards again – and he capped two of those with touchdown passes to lead the Steelers to a 31-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens that clinched the AFC North Division championship and guaranteed a playoff game at Heinz Field on the weekend of Jan. 7-8.

For the game, Roethlisberger completed 24-of-33 for 279 yards, with three touchdowns, two interceptions, and a rating of 103.0, but more important than the statistics were the situations in which Roethlisberger delivered for his team. Roethlisberger is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.



Steelers’ ‘Killer B’s’ fuel epic, emotional win over Ravens to take the AFC North

From Jacob Feldman at Sports Illustrated:

Ben Roethlisberger unbuckled his chinstrap and flung his right hand across his body in self-disgust. After throwing a second interception near his own goal line—this one close to the end of the third quarter as Big Ben’s Steelers trailed by 7—he dropped his head on his way back to the sideline. As if the game was over. As if Baltimore-Pittsburgh matchups don’t always go down to the final whistle. As if this chapter of the NFL’s best rivalry, with the AFC North up for grabs, wasn’t also going to be special. But of course it would be.

About an hour later, Roethlisberger let his chin hit his chest again, this time in exhaustion as much as anything else. He had just led the Steelers to three fourth-quarter touchdown drives. Antonio Brown had just caught a slant on the one-yard line, where three Ravens immediately greeted him. But the 180-lb. receiver had extended himself backwards and twisted far enough to stick his left hand, and the football, across the goal line for a game-winning TD. Pittsburgh had just clinched the AFC North title and a playoff spot with a 31-27 win. A classic.

“I kind of dug ourselves a hole,” Roethlisberger said after the game. “I […]

Brought to you by Juma Entertainment:



Tune your TV to CBS before the game at 4PM ET / 1PM PT to catch Big Ben, Drew Brees, Kyle Busch, EJ Manuel, Chase Utley, Tyrann Mathieu, Michelle Wie, Shawn White, and more sports stars with their Most Valuable Pets! Hosted by Boomer Esiason.

“We greatly appreciate the grants Mr. Roethlisberger has provided to us. They benefit not only our K9’s and their partners, but they also benefit our communities because the dogs are more readily available to help with calls for service,” — Sheriff Berry.

Meet Opie, a handsome and curious German shepherd from the Czech Republic, who will soon become one of the newest patrol and drug detection K9 members of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Opie was acquired earlier this year after Ben and his foundation tossed a grant to the CCSO worth $8,000, as part of his longtime commitment to enhancing K9 units for police and fire departments throughout the country.



Opie joined the CCSO when he was 16-months old and has been with his human partner, PFC Steven Davis – a 12-year-veteran – ever since. They are currently in K9 patrol training for 16 weeks and will continue with narcotics detection school for another 10 weeks. Upon graduation, they will become a vital part of patrol operations. “Opie will be able to help officers track missing or wanted persons, search for evidence, and conduct other essential patrol duties,” said Sheriff Troy D. Berry.

As far as Opie’s personality, his handler says Opie is focused while training, loves rewards for doing a good job, and is completely lovable when he’s not working. “Opie is really good at obedience, mostly because he loves to play fetch after we’re done training.

When I bring him home after work, he loves to play with my children and our other dogs,” said PFC Davis. “In fact, Opie and my daughter have a special bond she formed on her own. She likes to greet Opie with a very high-pitched, sweet voice whenever she says hello to him, and Opie tilts his head whenever he hears her voice as if he’s paying full attention. She doesn’t use that voice with our other dogs.”

With the grant, the agency was also able to purchase other necessities for all of the K9’s to include heated water buckets; large, durable Kong toys used as rewards for the K9’s; and two transport kennels.

Mr. William Cotton, Lead K9 Trainer for the CCSO, said the K9 Unit currently […]

From Ben’s Q&A with the media this afternoon:

Ben Roethlisberger didn’t practice on Wednesday as the Steelers began their preparation for the Baltimore Ravens, but fear not, it wasn’t injury related and he will be good to go on Sunday when the two teams meet on Christmas at Heinz Field.

Sunday’s game will have a lot on the line, as a win would clinch the AFC North for the Steelers.

“You would like it not to have to come down to it, but if it is, who better than to play the Ravens at home on Christmas?” said Roethlisberger. “I’m assuming this is what the NFL wanted.”

The Ravens won the first meeting between the two teams, 21-14, on Nov. 6 in a game where they shut down the Steelers’ running game, allowing just 36 yards. Getting the running game going this time against the Ravens is something that will be a key.

“It helps. I mean, to be balanced, to be able to run, and they’re the No. 1 or No. 2 ranked defense against the run, it’s an awesome challenge for our guys,” said Roethlisberger. “I know linemen are going to take that challenge and Le’Veon (Bell) as well. It takes everybody. The wide receivers, they have to be better at blocking. Tight ends, everyone has to rise up to the challenge in order for us to run the ball effectively.”


More from Ben:

On if this feels like a classic Ravens-Steelers game and the talk of people saying the rivalry has fallen off a little bit:

“I don’t know who started that talk. I don’t think this thing, this rivalry, has lost any of its luster. It sounds crazy, but it’s a fun rivalry, because it is physical, and it always means something. I have a lot of respect for a lot of those guys, and I think the feeling is pretty mutual. Then, you add in Christmas and all these things. This is what everyone wants and expects.”


On why the Ravens have had success against the Steelers lately:

“Whether we haven’t played well enough, they’ve played good, missed plays here and there, communication, it seems like there’s always a little bit of everything that leads them to beat us.” […]