Week 21 QB projections   •  PIT Stats

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

HT: 6-5, WT: 241, Born: 3-2-1982, College: Miami (OH), Drafted: Round 1, Pick 11

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Stats and Week 21 Projection

WK	OPP	RES	CMP	ATT	PYD	Y/A	PTD	INT	RSH	YD	Y/R	TD	FPT
18	at DEN	L, 23-29	22	40	289	7.2	1	1	3	15	5.0	0	19
SEASON TOTAL			324	513	4077	7.9	21	14	31	70	2.3	0	288

Week 21 Injury Status and Other News

No official injury reports have been released yet

Week 21 Matchup Info

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a bye this week.

Game Summaries

Week 1 at BAL - If Roethlisberger has played a worse game as a pro, I can't recall it. The only thing worse than the execution of his throws was the decisions that led to them. When Roethlisberger leaves the pocket, typically a big play can be expected. Usually, however, that big play is for Pittsburgh -- not their opponents. Exhibit A of Big Ben's misery came on a play that was designed to be a play-action fake and hit Hines Ward coming across the formation along the line of scrimmage. Ward was blown up by a Ravens' defender so Roethlisberger had to scramble and improvise. He ran left and then saw a streaking Heath Miller near the goal line. The problems with the decision, however, was the he had to throw back left across his body, and he didn't see Ed Reed (should be difficult to miss the NFL's interception leader from last year). The throw wobbled and ended up woefully short of Miller and in the hands of Reed. Roethlisberger threw another pick to Reed on a similar play later in the game. He left the pocket again and threw a pick on which one can only assume he didn't even see Reed. He faced pressure all day, but constant pressure is something Roethlisberger is used to and sometimes thrives on. His decision-making has to be better if the Steelers are going to be a contender this season -- even against a weaker schedule.

Week 2 vs SEA - This was the "day" to Roethlisberger's "night" performance at Baltimore last week. He couldn't have been worse last week but was very efficient this week. In a stark contrast to Seattle's offense, he averaged 9.9 yards per attempt due to the team's willingness to take shots downfield. Roethlisberger's day could have been even better if a pass from Seattle's 40 to Mike Wallace had been a touchdown instead of the pass interference penalty Wallace drew by burning cornerback Brandon Browner (whose name was heard early and often in negative sentences during this game). Another reason Roethlisberger's day could have been better was his inaccuracy in the first half. He missed Heath Miller on a rollout to the left for a play that would have been more than 10 yards at the catch and potentially 20-25 because Miller had running room. That throw -- along with one in tight near Seattle's end zone just before halftime to Hines Ward -- came out a bit high on Roethlisberger. Even one play that ended in a catch by Isaac Redman was one that Redman had to leap for and bail out his QB. Roethlisberger could have been 25/31 for 350 yds and 3 TDs had everything gone his way and he hit all the throws he should have. He did briefly leave the game with a knee injury that looked serious at first when Raheem Brock came in low, but he returned to the game after just a few plays and looked fine for the remainder of the contest.

Week 3 at IND - The first quarter of this game was an absolute clinic from Roethlisberger. He came out using play action on the very first play and hit a rhythm throw to Mike Wallace on the right sideline for 19 yards. Two plays later, it was another 29 yards to Wallace. The drive stalled on a 3rd down play where Roethlisberger threw for Emmanuel Sanders in the middle of the field. Roethlisberger threw a very accurate pass that was dropped by Sanders. Later in the quarter, Roethlisberger connected with Wallace on an 81-yard bomb where he very deftly looked off the safety just enough to get Wallace the room necessary to run by him. The throw was high and deep and was caught beautifully in stride. The rest of the game, however, was a bit of a struggle for Roethlisberger. He was pressured all night long, and it affected his performance. His interception was simply terrible. He overshot the receiver so badly that the deep safety who picked the ball off was nearly 15 yards behind the intended receiver. It's also worth noting that the Steelers lost multiple linemen in this game. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert had a shoulder injury and left the game; right guard Doug Legursky left the game; and then left tackle Jonathan Scott (who was being abused by Dwight Freeney all night long) left as well -- which caused Gilbert to have to re-enter. It will be interesting to see how Roethlisberger performs with tackles who will come off the scrap heap. After the scary knee-shot last week and all the hits this week, he may be far from a lock to make it all the way through the season

Week 4 at HOU - After last Sunday's game turned his offensive line into the infirmary ward, many predicted that Roethlisberger would be under fire all day long in Houston. The line injuries and Houston's pass rush made those people exactly right. While Roethlisberger got a couple of early passes out accurately, they were short and were out of his hand before almost before the defenders were out of their stance. Pittsburgh's offense, however, is built on vertical routes that take a long time to develop. While it makes all of their young pass-catchers very dynamic, it also leaves their quarterback extremely vulnerable -- even when the line isn't held together by rubber bands and duct tape. Roethlisberger's inaccuracies in this game were due to multiple factors. First of all, the offense hardly touched the field in the first half. Secondly, he was under duress all game long. The only two drives Houston didn't pressure him much were a no-huddle drive near the end of the first half and a run-dominated drive that produced the Pittsburgh touchdown. On the no-huddle drive, Roethlisberger had perhaps his biggest mistake of the day. After missing Antonio Brown on a 2nd-down button hook route, he looked for Brown again -- this time on a flag route to the endzone. Brown had two or three steps on the defenders, but Roethlisberger air-mailed the pass. It would have made the game a 10-7 contest so the consequences of the missed throw were significant. At game's end, the pressure may have finally caught up to Roethlisberger. Rookie defensive end J.J. Watt was tripped up and slammed into Roethlisberger's foot/knee area. He was limping on the next three plays prior to throwing an interception that ended the game and was seen on crutches boarding the team plane. Stay tuned.

Week 5 vs TEN - Fighting through a bad foot injury, Roethlisberger had his best game of the year. He was efficient, used his running game, and was deadly in the red zone. Roethlisberger utilized nearly all of his targets, throwing TDs to two different tight ends along with a couple of his most trusted wide receivers. Thankfully for Pittsburgh, the offensive line performed admirably in this game -- one of many negative assumptions coming into the game that the Steelers aimed to prove wrong. With better protection, Roethlisberger didn't have to scramble much to avoid heavy rushes. One time he was forced to move certainly showed his injury. On his second quarter touchdown to David Johnson, the play design was for Roethlisberger to run hard right before making the throw. He grimaced on the sideline after the play but came back and continued the aerial assault. His fifth TD pass was a more Steeler-like long bomb to Mike Wallace as the Steelers continued to put the pedal to the floor late in the fourth quarter.

Week 6 vs JAX - It was a tale of two halves for Roethlisberger. In the first half, he came out firing and was on point. He started the game hitting on 11 of his first 14. He was hitting short passes and deep, quick outs to Heath Miller, a long bomb to Mike Wallace for his only touchdown. After dominating the first half, Pittsburgh came out firing again early in the third quarter. Roethlisberger had Wallace running free down the numbers once more but threw the pass outside, narrowly missing another big play. From that point, he seemed to never be able to get into a groove again. Jacksonville also had a 9+ minute drive to score their touchdown, which also seemed to affect Pittsburgh's offensive rhythm. While he did get stripped of the ball again on sack, Roethlisberger appears to be a much better player than the guy who turned the ball over repeatedly at Baltimore in week one.

Week 7 at ARI - Pittsburgh clearly came into the game looking to exploit a weak Arizona secondary. The team's first drive was on a short field after a takeaway by the defense, and Roethlisberger hit on passes of 16 yards and 12 yards to Antonio Brown and Heath Miller respectively -- the latter of which was a touchdown for his tight end. Pittsburgh's success on the ground last week did not carry over to this game though, forcing Roethlisberger to throw more than he probably should have in a game his team controlled as much Pittsburgh did. Even with the team up double digits in the fourth quarter, Big Ben had to stand in the pocket and deliver while taking many shots. At separate points in the game, he looked to be shaking his right arm and was also limping after another big hit. His offensive line is beginning to get healthier with left guard Chris Kemoeatu returning and left tackle Max Starks getting himself in better shape as the weeks go by, but it's still not a unit that is going to keep Roethlisberger's jersey clean like the ones in Green Bay or New Orleans do for their quarterbacks. Despite being pummeled, Roethlisberger's game was very sharp. Mike Wallace outran a couple more overmatched defensive backs for a 95-yard TD -- his second 80+ yard TD of the season. And Roethlisberger found each one of his top five targets multiple times in this game. Including Isaac Redman's two catches on dump-offs, Pittsburgh had six player catch multiple passes. Roethlisberger was on point deep, intermediate, and on his dump-offs. He avoided rushes quite often on the times he wasn't hit and delivered the ball to his weapons. Even though it came against a weak Arizona team, this was his most complete game of the season.

Week 8 vs NE - Masterful. Signature. Fantastic. Those are just three of the many positive words that could describe Roethlisberger's performance and the Pittsburgh offensive game plan in this game. Roethlisberger executed a very New England-like attack today. He passed short, quick, and often. The first drive, Roethlisberger didn't have the ball in his hand for more than two or three seconds -- negating what was already a rather insignificant pass rush New England brought into the game. Pittsburgh executed throws that were designed to supplement a run game -- passes where 4-6 yards are OK as they keep the team on schedule. It was a rare mix of possession football that was extremely pass-heavy -- a mix that is typically only executed this effectively by one team in the NFL. After holding New England to a three-and-out to begin the third quarter, Pittsburgh came out in a no-huddle offense despite being up by seven points. They marched down the field and made a field goal. Typically, Pittsburgh uses its no-huddle to stir up a lethargic offense, but in this game, it was used to further put their foot on the gas, and Roethlisberger's decision-making and accuracy validated the decision. It was one of his best -- if not the best -- games he has played in his career. Roethlisberger is the hottest quarterback in the AFC, and it will be interesting to see if that streak can continue in a potential revenge game against Baltimore next Sunday night.

Week 9 vs BAL - Roethlisberger continued to show elements of what made him the hottest QB in the AFC coming into this game. He did, however, make a critical mistake in the third quarter. On a bubble screen, he appeared to be trying to avoid telegraphing the play, but instead, it resulted in him not seeing Terrell Suggs. Suggs skied for the ball and intercepted it as the Steelers were driving for the score. He was, however, missing two chief targets in Emmanuel Sanders and Hines Ward but still found a way to keep this team in the game against the league's #1 defense. Roethlisberger utilized his surprising amount of time in the pocket and extended plays enough to find open receivers. The touchdown pass was vintage Roethlisberger, as he scrambled right and heaved a pass into the endzone toward two receivers. Mike Wallace, who came from the left side of the field all the way across hauled it in for the go-ahead score.

Week 10 at CIN - It was a very solid game for Roethlisberger as he was able to lead his team to victory over a bitter divisional rival on the road. Roethlisberger not only had to go against a very solid defense but also had to deal with 25 to 40 mph wind gusts. That explains why he wasn't able to connect any long bombs with his favorite deep target WR Mike Wallace. Roethlisberger did try two deep balls to Wallace but he was covered well by the Cincinnati defense. Even his only interception of the day was not his fault as the usually sure handed TE Heath Miller bobbled a perfectly thrown ball that was then picked off by CB Leon Hall. The growing connection with WR Antonio Brown was quite evident on Sunday, as he was able to convert several 3rd & long conversions to Brown. The Steelers played with the lead for the most of the game and therefore ran the ball 30 times on Sunday. This limited Roethlisberger yardage as he had his first game in the last four that was fewer than 300 yards. Even with the aforementioned gusty winds and hostile environment Roethlisberger showed why he is one of the top QB's in the game. With the development of his young WR core the sky is the limit for Roethlisberger. Ben did have a touchdown pass to Cotchery called back due to penalty and also missed a wide open Cotchery for another score. So there could have been a bigger day for Roethlisberger. On a side note, late in the 4th quarter when the Steelers were trying to melt the clock they leaned on Roethlisberger arm to do so. That shows how much faith they have in his QB play.

Week 12 at KC - This game highlighted both the magnificent things Ben Roethlisberger can do and the head-scratching things he does on rare occasions. He was under constant pressure all game long (a line anyone who has recapped or analyzed a Pittsburgh game in the last three years can copy/paste into the analysis) but was able to get away from the rush many times and find receivers. Kansas City's secondary did a great job of holding their coverages on Pittsburgh's wide receivers though, which meant that the open pass-catchers Roethlisberger found were often running backs instead of his elite deep targets. His touchdown pass was probably the best two-yard TD pass you'll see all year. He evaded an A-gap blitzer up the middle by side-stepping while simultaneously protecting the ball behind his back; then he took a quick step forward and lofted a beautiful touchdown pass to the back of the endzone over a defender's outstretched arms. The ball came down just in time to allow rookie tight end Weslye Saunders to tap both feet in bounds. Roethlisberger's worst moment in the game, however, was almost equally bad as his TD was good. He attempted to look off the deep safety to create one-one-one coverage for Antonio Brown and threw the pass before looking back to ensure he had done so. It resulted in an easy undercutting of the route and an interception that even a centerfielder would call routine.

Week 13 vs CIN - Efficient. Effective. Thorough. Those are the ways to describe Roethlisberger's performance. He didn't have to carry the team due to can effective run game, a superior defensive effort, and a punt return touchdown. But he drove the team downfield effectively multiple times and spread the ball to man receivers. At one point, he had 15 completions and had utilized seven different pass catchers. His accuracy on quick passes allowed his receiver to make plays after the catch - such as Antonio Brown's 45-yard catch and Mike Wallace's second touchdown, which came on a quick screen. It wasn't the masterful performance he turned in against New England earlier in the year, but his team's gameplan didn't dictate him playing that way. They ran effectively enough to be completely balanced, and Roethlisberger stayed within the plan and was very effective.

Week 14 vs CLE - Roethlisberger began the game on fire, going 4-4 with a touchdown on the team's opening drive. The touchdown was vintage Roethlisberger as he avoided pressure by stepping up in the pocket and releasing the ball just before the defender arrived to hit his throwing arm. In the second quarter, however, Pittsburgh was looking to hit on a deep play. With the receivers not open, Roethlisberger held the ball way too long and was hit in a high-low fashion, injuring his ankle. It appeared as if he wouldn't return, but he came back in the second half. Despite appearing as if he couldn't even walk without limping and being unable to execute stretch handoffs, Roethlisberger threw for nearly 180 yards and had the game-clinching touchdown pass. It was an effort that showed incredible toughness. If someone had simply seen his passes and not his movements prior to them and after them, it wouldn't have appeared as if anything at all was wrong with him. It was gutsy and heroic to come back and seal a game that the team likely would have struggled to win without him.

Week 15 at SF - Heading into the game, the story was whether Big Ben could play and if could play well. He answered both questions resoundingly on Monday Night. He did play, but he wasn't himself. Some of the reason for his poor performance was the inspired and on fire San Francisco defense, but a lot of it was because of his ankle. Unable to get on top of his throws, Roethlisberger left many passes high and behind his receivers due to a lack of weight transfer and the lack of velocity on his passes. Another frequent mistake was that he was very rushed in getting rid of the ball. This was evident on a first quarter deep pass to Mike Wallace, which didn't have Roethlisberger's trademark arc on it and landed about five yards out of Wallace's reach due to its flatness. He did get into a rhythm later in the game as the team's run game helped get the defense off-balance, but each drive fell short near the outside of Pittsburgh's field goal range. Having to begin each drive at the team's own 16 on average also hindered the team's ability to score points.

Week 17 at CLE - Roethlisberger returned after missing last week's game with his high ankle sprain. Early in the game, he looked like a QB that had missed multiple weeks -- not just one. His rust was apparent as he missed some early throws high. It could still be a product of not being able to fully follow through on to his left side -- or being able to but not feeling confident in doing so because of the pain. Roethlisberger developed some rhythm on the team's field goal drive before halftime. He got in the no-huddle and completed his first two passes -- each for first downs -- before hitting Antonio Brown on a deep ball for 40 yards. The ball sailed a bit outside on Roethlisberger, but he was trying to keep it away from the deep safety and dealing with circling wind gusts. Brown made a fantastic play for him. Later on that drive, the team had time for two quick passes into the endzone from Cleveland's 1-yard line. They ran two plays that got the ball out quickly and required the receiver to run under it. Both were slightly overthrown by Roethlisberger, but the appropriate miss in that situation is long so the field goal chance can be preserved. Pittsburgh was very run-heavy in the second half and had some drives cut short by fumbles so Roethlisberger couldn't continue his rhythm and build upon it. The game was very disjointed for him after halftime.

Week 18 at DEN - Roethlisberger began the game still looking like a player at much less than 100%, but he didn't look as poor as he did in Week 17's game at Cleveland. He got going early with a couple passes to his tight end Heath Miller -- including one that went for 33 yards on a touch pass down the middle of the field. He was slightly high, but Miller's tall frame enabled him to catch the ball. Roethlisberger started going a bit cold in the second quarter. Many plays were designed for him to release the ball quickly and off his back foot so receivers could get deep and run under them. But he overthrew all of them. They weren't the types of deep balls the Pittsburgh offense typically utilizes. In the second half, though, Roethlisberger appeared to be on a mission. He was much more mobile and looked like his old self. His 31-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery was a thing of beauty and vintage Big Ben. Stepping up to avoid a rush, Roethlisberger sprinted forward and released a deep ball just before crossing the line of scrimmage which found Cotchery one-on-one with a Denver linebacker. He did his best to lead this team back after a dismal second quarter, but his defense let him down.