I have to give where credit is due. I have made no secret about my unyielding criticism of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. I have pointed out time and time again, Roethlisberger is not playing "up to snuff" this season and has not earned his $100 million paycheck. I've called him out more than a few occasions and even labeled him "Big Bend" for his propensity to hold onto the ball too long and expose himself to countless sacks.
Well, last Sunday night before the largest crowd to ever witness a football game at Baltimore, Roethlisberger earned his cash during money time. From here on out, I'm calling him the "Notorious B.E.N."
With the Steelers down 9-6 in a typical AFC North bloodbath, Roethlisberger manned up and drove the Steelers' offense 92 yards for the winning score. And yes, it was a winning score. Santonio Holmes had possession, both feet in and the ball broke the goal line. End of story, Ravens!
The Notorious B.E.N. was 7 for 11 for 89 yards in the final drive and posted a QB rating of 119 in the fourth quarter. Big Ben was at his best when the Steelers needed him most. He made great decisions, finding Hines Ward over the middle, hitting Nate Washington for crucial first downs and buying enough time with his legs to find Holmes in the end zone.
The winning drive is the same sort of thing that galvanizes teams. It's a loud message to the rest of the team and to the rest of the league that the Pittsburg Steelers are serious Super Bowl contenders. With the win, Pittsburgh has a chance at home-field throughout the playoffs when it plays the Tennessee Titans this week. Even if the Steelers lose to the Titans, they still have a first-round bye.
There are times during the course of a season when your quarterback may have to win a game for you. Big Ben did that in the face of adversity, against the hated Ravens, which boasts the league's No. 2-rated defense, before a hostile crowd and with the division title on the line. In short, Big Ben was awesome!
It was far from pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but he got the job done. The Steelers defense will always keep them in the games. All the offense has to do is not screw it up. For the past five games, the offense has taken care of the ball much better and Big Ben is a big part of that.
I've always believed that you only go as far as your quarterback takes you. Right now, the Steelers are headed in the right direction with Big Ben playing large at the right time.
Keywords: Baltimore Ravens, Big Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
