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Steelers Ben but don't Break against Cowboys

Yinzer Crazy • November 9, 2020
There’s something to be said about a team that just finds a way to win.

Because although some Steelers fans may disagree on occasion - it’s really hard to win a football game on the world’s greatest stage.

Ask the reigning Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

They lost four games last season en route to a title.

And also snuck by the 3-5 Carolina Panthers at home yesterday by two points.

Believe it or not , you are allowed to lose games in the NFL regular season and still win the trophy.

Infact, everyone does - unless you're the 1972 Miami Dolphins who are the only team in history to finish a season undefeated and win the Super Bowl.

Every game is a different story, and another chance for you or your opponent to start fresh.

Yesterday represented just that for Pittsburgh and Dallas.

The Steelers were 8-0 and the Cowboys over the past few weeks had been one of the worst teams statistically in NFL history.

But if this were Sesame Street, it’s no secret that Dallas brought their A game into this contest, while the Steelers brought their C. 

But when it was all said and done it was a B(en) that made the difference.

However, it wasn't without many gasps and heart-palpitations if you're a fan of either side.

The biggest of them all coming when an injury cast doubt on the rest of the season for us yinzers.

Late in the 2nd quarter with the Steelers driving, Ben Roethlisberger navigated the pocket for a dump-off pass but most significantly was hammered as he stepped into the throw by Cowboys rookie defensive-tackle Neville Gallimore, and then sandwiched on the back-end of the hit by Demarcus Lawrence.

It obviously looked quite painful from my cozy couch seat.

Ben went down grasping his left knee. 

Tears started to fall from my eyes leisurely down into my bag of salt and vinegar chips.

A familiar thought-process began to unravel in my brain.

“The disaster game has arrived.” 

Not only are we going to lose to the Cowboys, but we’re now possibly going to lose Ben long-term and be thrown right back into the semi-dark hole that was the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback play in 2019.

I say semi-dark hole because I didn’t know what 2020 would uncover at the time in a non-football related sense.

Following the injury, I think most of Yinzer Crazy and Steelers nation were feeling similar emotions.

Here are what some fans were saying on the tweeter.

Tayℓor
@ohVixen
16h
I can’t take another Ben injury. I’m holding the tears back man

Jesse
@jessejams412
·16h
It hurts my eyes seeing Mason Rudolph play QB for my favorite team


JuJu’s Bike ❼
@JuJusBike_
·16h
I would rather use a nail gun on my eyes than watch Mason Rudolph play QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers


Tongue in cheek i'm sure - but still wise words from a bicycle.

I think this is an important nugget - as I want to give a bit more credit to backup QB Mason Rudolph who briefly saw the field yesterday following the injury to Ben.

This year, teams in the NFL that start a back-up quarterback are a combined 7-18. 

Mike Tomlin with backups Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges last season went 8-7. 

Maybe some proof that they weren't the worst thing we've ever seen after all. Did anyone watch Cowboys starter Ben DiNucci last weekend?

But the point is that Ben going down with an injury was frightening to anyone watching this team with black and gold colored glasses.

It meant the Steelers likely weren’t going to be a 1-seed in the AFC as the Chiefs continue their strong play - meaning even if Ben came back the squad would probably enter the playoffs on short rest without a potential playoff bye.

I know that’s projecting quite a bit - but I’m sure you had a similar train of thoughts running through your frantic Sunday-scaries filled brain.

How could you not the way 2020 has gone?

But maybe things are starting to turn around for the better.

If you hadn’t noticed, all of the attention yesterday was on Buccaneers Quarterback Tom Brady and Saints Quarterback Drew Brees - as the NFL’s two top leaders in passing yards would square off in a Sunday Night Duel for the ages.

That was until Roethlisberger came out of the tunnel with the Steelers trailing 13-9 with his helmet on ready to go - like Stone Cold Steve Austin ready to re-enter the ring.

To provide the best drama that Sunday would see.

And lead the Steelers to yet another fourth quarter comeback in extraordinary fashion.

The Cowboys lead the contest 19-9 with just over two minutes to go in the third quarter. 

From that point on, Ben was in control - completing 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 193 yards and two touchdowns.

He engineered a game-winning drive similar to last weekends' against the Ravens.

It felt like Ben was drawing up plays in the sand on the beach, as he hit multiple options out of the no-huddle - including the go-ahead score to tight-end Eric Ebron from the Cowboys eight yard line with a little over two minutes remaining.

Ebron leaped over Cowboys cornerback Saivion Smith and into the endzone to give the Steelers a 24-19 lead, which would ultimately be the final tally.

After the score, Ebron mimicked the action of riding a horse in the house of the Cowboys.

The Steelers needed every bit of their horse, Ben Roethlisberger, to remain the last undefeated in the NFL.

But he certainly isn’t just a one-trick pony.

Via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, with his fourth-quarter performance yesterday, Ben engineered the 34th fourth quarter comeback of his professional career.

That tied him with Johnny Unitas for fourth most all-time in the history of the league.

In a day where Brady and Brees were featured at the forefront of every football dinner table conversion - it was a different "B" who continued to quietly put together what should be amounting to an MVP worthy season.

At least he should be in the conversation.

Which he has never been.

Roethlisberger in his 16 year career has never received a single MVP vote.

The Steelers finished 8-8 last season. 

They returned with a very similar roster, with the exception of Roethlisberger - and are now 8-0. 

Who’s more valuable than that?

Yes - there were multiple Steelers who had a significant impact on the game and the win.

Minkah Fitzpatrick was all over the place, recording a huge interception and for the second straight week breaking up a would-be last second touchdown on the opponent's final play.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is once again entrenched as the go-to target. 

Whenever Roethlisberger has needed a big-play the last few weeks he has looked in the direction of 19 - as his toughness and ability to come up in the clutch has been admirable.

And Cam Heyward’s sack on the Cowboys second to last possession proves why he is the backbone of this team. 

The heart and soul defensive captain of one of the sturdiest units to ever take the field for the black and gold.

But at the end of the day, at least for me - the story was once again Ben.

As it was at the beginning of the season - throughout his rehab as he looked to come back from major elbow surgery.

And as it could be at the end of the season - as he looks to deliver on his promise of bringing yet another Lombardi to the Rooney family. 

The Steelers remain the last unbeaten for at least another week, and Ben Roethlisberger should now be at the forefront of every NFL conversation.



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