Big Ben’s title bell’s set to ring
BEN ROETHLISBERGER led Pittsburgh to 11 consecutive wins at the start of term, with talk of a third Super Bowl for the quarterback.
But having lost three in a row, and with only two games left before the playoffs, Big Ben, 38, knows he needs to raise his game if he wants to win the title for the first time in 12 years.
He did, at least, keep his language almost clean when it came to the question of social media criticism from people who think he is past it after 17 seasons with the Steelers.
He said: “I don’t blame them. When you play like poo, you should get talked about like that.
“I need to play better. If I’m not giving them a reason to talk good, I’m giving them a reason to talk bad, so that is all on me.
“The job we signed up for is to live under a microscope where every step, every word, every throw is scrutinised.
“If you want to play this game long enough, when you physically can’t do all the things you could do when you were younger, you have to find a way to win in other ways.
“For me, it is trying to be mentally strong, figure out mentally how can I beat a defence.”
Pittsburgh face a tough test tonight against Indianapolis and Roethlisberger added: “You’ve got to find ways to win. Good teams do it. We did earlier this year but now we’re just not doing it.
“We have to get back to some sort of continuity.
“When you need a play to be made, we all have to be there to make it, whoever’s number is called, and it starts with me.”