by Bo Marchionte
Twitter @BoMarchionte
Steelers score 21 unanswered points to win AFC North for first time since 2017, with come from behind win over Colts 28-24.
Ben Roethlisberger stood across from Colts Ryan Kelly on the Steelers logo at midfield as referee Alex Kemp tossed the coin into the air.
While the coin flipped repeatedly in the air before nestling into the grass of Heinz Field, in those few seconds, an eternity of questions regarding the future of the Steelers with or without might him possibly filled his mind. Could they snap a three-game losing streak? Was another trip to the Super Bowl in the cards? How far away is an imminent retirement?
Indianapolis won the toss and elected to defer the ball, Roethlisberger fist bumped Kelly and trotted towards the Pittsburgh sideline. Shaking hands with Coach Tomlin, Roethlisberger proceeded to maneuver through the crowd of black jerseys behind the benches, to grab his helmet for the opening kickoff against Indianapolis.
Those possible questions still racing through his mind.
Could they snap a three-game losing streak? Was another trip to the Super Bowl in the cards? How far away is an imminent retirement?
A quick three and out by the Steelers offense and Roethlisberger was back behind the benches to retrieve his winter gear stashed on the blue Microsoft Surface roll out machine. That has been the routine of late as the Steelers offense struggled to find a rhythm as the losses mounted.
Those questions might have been replaced with: What the hell happened to us?
That was the routine Roethlisberger continued to repeat as the aggravation built each time, he exited the field with no points and returning in a bigger deficient than in which he left. His helmet feeling the brunt each time he slammed it down with force from the frustration of a miserable first half of football.
Invisible in the first half and trailing 24-7 in the third quarter it appeared that their fourth consecutive loss was unfolding as Roethlisberger and company could not move the football with any success. With 98 total passing yards in the first half and zero rushing yards (negative 0.6 to be exact), Pittsburgh was facing a humiliating loss at home.
The running game was nonexistent while the passing game was a barrage of underneath routes that allow Indianapolis to tighten their grip. Early in the season the distribution of the football was a radical change from previous season, especially during the peak of Antonio Brown in the Steelers offense.
“I’ve been watching Ben (Roethlisberger) like you guys for 17 years, man,” Mike Tomlin said. Half of play is not going to define him. He’s a competitor. As long as there’s time on the clock, he’s going to keep going.?
In the second half, he came out performed at an MVP level.
Trailing 24-7, he helped lead a comeback that helped secure the division and giving life to a team that was searching for the magic that has vanished over the last month.
“A lot of the second half was that (no-huddle), just changing the tempo, trying to get guys balls, looks, things like that. I think it was successful because guys made plays. Like I said, we were able to convert, kind of keep the tempo going.”
Getting guys involved was the key to victory from the offensive side of the football.
Clearly his favorite target this season, Diontae Johnson was the recipient of 50% of the targets in the first half. Johnson had 27 yards receiving in the first half on five of his 10 targets. The rest of the offense combined had ten targets total.
Ironically, despite his lack of touches in the second half, it was Johnson who help ignite the flame that would eventually torch the Colts defense for 21 second half points. Johnson would finish with eight catches for 75 yards and one touchdown. The 39-yard play was the longest of the game for Pittsburgh, that set the comeback win in motion.
Exiting the field Roethlisberger after series in the second half, he was pointing to the heavens, before making his way behind the benches to put on his winter Steelers parka.
Roethlisberger execution with the football over the last two quarters proved to be too much for a stellar Colts defense. He began to James Washington, Vance McDonald and rookie Chase Claypool who all were held catch less in the first half. The more involved the team got the more success they were able to achieve.
In the fourth quarter, Roethlisberger would add two more touchdowns to his NFL resume, after finding Eric Ebron and JuJu Smith-Schuster would the game winner. After his last touchdown pass, the offensive line surrounding Roethlisberger as they hugged and jumped with joyful emotion. It was like Pittsburgh was turning the page on their three-game skid and turning the pages to the next chapter of the season with positive energy.
“Yeah, those guys are the guys that I play for,” Roethlisberger said of his offensive line. “I love those guys, have been around those guys the longest. (Maurkice) Pounce, Dave (DeCastro), Al (Villanueva), obviously the other guys. It means the world to me. If you ever watch every touchdown, I don’t ever run down and celebrate with the receivers or the tight ends or running backs. I celebrate with those guys because without them, none of it’s possible. They just mean so much to me. I want to win games and championships for them.”
Registering his 56th three-TD pass game of his career (regular season and post season), Roethlisberger has a franchise record and ranks eighth in NFL history.
Clinching the football after the final play of the game was Philip Rivers made his way across the field to shake hands, it was a defining moment of this season for the Steelers and Roethlisberger.
“I think we’re going to write that story,” Tomlin said regarding moving forward. “Tonight, we’re going to wear out hats and T-shirts.”
Those special hats that you earn when your division champs.
Roethlisberger isn’t playing for T-shirts, he wants the gifts you put on your finger.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt