Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Takeaways vs. Packers in Week 12
By Donnie Druin
3. Big Ben is back
From flirting with retirement in the off-season to poor play through the season, Ben Roethlisberger has undoubtedly seen his fair share of hate. Having the terms of “old” and “washed up” attached to his name has become commonplace for fans both inside and outside of the city.
Yet Sunday night, the 14-year veteran seemed to have turned back the clock, hitting receivers on schedule and dropping footballs to places only his players could reach them. However, Pittsburgh receivers outside of Brown weren’t able to hold onto the ball, plaguing the team with excessive drops across the board. Along with two interceptions early in the game, it appeared to be another typical performance of Roethlisberger’s 2017 campaign.
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However as Antonio Brown caught fire, so did his quarterback. Going back and forth on the scoreboard with Green Bay, the Steelers got the ball back in a 28-28 game with just a shade over two minutes left, a situation all too familiar for Roethlisberger. The Steelers, led by a quarterback who would eventually complete his 41st game winning drive, marched downfield and scored the game winning field goal as time expired for their sixth straight win.
Capping off a night where he threw over 350 yards with fourth touchdowns, Roethlisberger was again able to capture the late game magic that has made him so great over the years. This season has without a doubt shown Ben is far past his prime. Even when he’s on the move and extending the play, it’s evident father time has Roethlisberger in his sights to retire. However coming off a game where Ben hit/matched season highs in completions, completion percentage, yards and touchdowns, it appears his worst football is behind him.
Pittsburgh doesn’t need him to be Tom Brady or Drew Brees, they simply need Big Ben to be himself. Sunday night showcased why the Steelers wouldn’t want any other quarterback on their team leading the way, as Roethlisberger has done so many times before.