The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a moment of changing of the guard and a new younger era. Especially, with most of the off-season talk involving a QB battle between some much younger guys. Yinzers haven't heard this kind of talk about who the Steelers should start at quarterback in 18 seasons and rightfully so after the team drafted a kid out of Miami University of Ohio all the way back in 2004. The rest is history, that kid, future 1st-ballot Hall of Famer, Ben Roethlisberger was the franchise for the next 18 seasons after that.
In the most Steeler fashion, we pay respect to the ones before us, let's take a look at Roethlisberger's top 5 career moments.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers motions from the line of scrimmage against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 01, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
I didn't realize how hard this would be before I started to type. It's hard to narrow down so many moments and memories to a top 5 list. For many Steeler fans, Roethlisberger has been the ONLY QB we can actually remember. I was only 8 years old, when the quarterback took his first snaps, so he's a big part of why I loved the game of football. Before I get into the list though, I just want to say thank you, Ben Roethlisberger, for being one of the biggest parts of my childhood.
5. 2004 Rookie of the Year Season
Tommy Maddox, who was the incumbent, helped Ben Roethlisberger with the transition of becoming a rookie starting quarterback with the Steelers in 2004. David Maxwell/Getty Images
Steelers veteran QB at the time, Tommy Maddox went down in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2004 season with an elbow injury. Roethlisberger was expected to sit behind Maddox and backup Charlie Batch. With Batch already dealing with an injury and Maddox going down, in stepped Roethlisberger for clean up duty as the Steelers were getting blown out. The team would go on to lose, but wouldn't lose again with Roethlisberger at the helm, until the eventual loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship that year. Roethlisberger finished the year with a perfect 13-0 starter record, completing 196 passes of 295 attempts, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, a rushing touchdown, and 5 game-winning drives. Enough for the rookie to win AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. This is where it all started!
4. Broken Nose Game Against the Ravens
The Ravens' Haloti Ngata, not pictured, broke Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's nose, but Pittsburgh pulled out a 13-10 victory at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 5, 2010. (McClatchy-Tribune photo)
Roethlisberger took a vicious hit from Ravens' defensive tackle, Haloti Ngata. The quarterback got up, in typical-Roethlisberger fashion, but his nose was crushed. It was crooked with blood pouring down his face. That didn't matter though, the quarterback came back into the game. He finished completing 22 of his 38 passes for 253 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Roethlisberger's lone touchdown to RB Isaac Redman would secure the win for the Steelers 13-10 on Sunday Night Football. This play was the epitome of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry and one of the many Roethlisberger moments that says, "He's a Pittsburgh Steeler."
3. 12 Touchdowns in 2 Games in 2014
Oct 26, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of their game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 51-34. (Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports)
In Weeks 8 and 9 of the 2014 season, Roethlisberger delivered all of the goods and put on display back to back superstar quarterback performances! The Steelers put up 51 points against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8 and 43 points the following week against the Ravens. Against the Colts, Roethlisberger finished with completing 40 of his 49 passes for 522 yards, 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Following that performance up against the Ravens with completing 25 of his 37 pass attempts for 340 yards, another 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He was dynamic and it was sure fun to watch!
2. Roethlisberger's Shoe String Game and Season-Saving Tackle on Colts DB Nick Harper
Whenever the @Steelers play the Colts, Ben Roethlisberger’s game-saving tackle in the 2005 Playoffs always comes to mind. pic.twitter.com/oBpKnxTxJr
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 26, 2020
Pittsburgh was about to put the game and the Colts' season on ice when they handed the ball off to Steelers' Hall of Fame RB Jerome Bettis from the 2.5-yardline. The running back then fumbled in an attempt to get into the endzone to extend Pittsburgh's 3-point lead. Colts' DB Nick Harper picked the ball up and looked to be headed 90 plus yards to the endzone. In a twist and turn, Roethlisberger fell backwards grabbing whatever he could to stop Harper from going the other way. He made a shoe-string tackle at the 43-yardline, being what seemed to be Pittsburgh's last line of defense to get to the next round. Colts kicker, Mike Vanderjagt missed a 46- yard field goal attempt to send Pittsburgh onto the AFC Championship game. Pittsburgh would go on from this game to win Super Bowl XL and Roethlisberger would capture the 1st Super Bowl win of his career.
1. Pass to Santonio Holmes to Capture Super Bowl XLIII Win
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
With :35 seconds, Roethlisberger hit WR Santonio Holmes where only he could catch the ball. The eluding of the Arizona Cardinals' pass rush, the throw, the catch, everything about the play was perfect and exactly what it needed to be for Pittsburgh to come out on top to be Super Bowl XLIII champions.
Roethlisberger said about the play afterwards:
“When it came off my hand, I thought the defender (cornerback Ralph Brown) in front was going to turn around,” Roethlisberger said. “I really thought it was intercepted when I let go of it, but it ended up just over his hand and where [Holmes] could make a play.”
Ben Roethlisberger completed 5 of 7 passes for 84 yards on the Steelers’ winning drive.
What do yinz think of these top 5 Roethlisberger moments? Did I leave anything out? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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