‘Big Ben’ eyes improvement despite two opening wins
PITTSBURGH — Judging by the tone of Ben Roethlisberger’s voice, it was hard to tell if the Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-0 or 0-2.
No matter how the questions were framed following a 26-21 victory over Denver on Sunday that gave the Steelers their best start since 2017, the club’s longtime quarterback kept turning each answer into a referendum of sorts on his play. While quick to heap praise upon his young wide receivers — including rookie Chase Claypool and budding second-year star Diontae Johnson — Roethlisberger believes he quickly needs to knock off whatever rust might remain from his injury-marred 2019.
“I didn’t connect with guys when they were open,” Roethlisberger said. “I just didn’t play well enough.”
Never mind that he completed 29 of 41 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns against an interception. Never mind that his rainbow to Claypool down the left sideline that turned into an 84-yard score was perfect. Never mind that his 28-yard dart to Johnson in the end zone came after the 38-year-old Roethlisberger extended the play with his legs as if he were briefly channeling a much younger version of himself.
Roethlisberger only saw the mistakes, though other than an ill-advised lob toward JuJu Smith-Schuster early in the third quarter that turned into an interception, he was highly efficient. Through two weeks, he’s completed 69% of his passes, and any concerns about the state of his surgically repaired right arm should be put to rest after he threw 73 passes in 5 1⁄2 days.
The path figures to get more difficult. Roethlisberger expects that the timing issues he dealt with against the Broncos can be resolved relatively quickly.
“Hopefully it will come,” he said.
What’s working
The Steelers have led the NFL in sacks each of the last three seasons. The defense certainly looks like it has all the ingredients to make it four straight.
Pittsburgh had seven sacks against Denver and has 10 through two games. And not all of them are coming from outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree. Nickel back Mike Hilton — all 5-foot-9 of him — continues to be one of the most effective edge blitzers in the league.
Hilton already has two sacks, and safety Terrell Edmunds delivered the second of his three-year career by dropping Broncos backup quarterback Jeff Driskel with 1:51 to go to seal the victory.
Stock up
Rookie offensive lineman Kevin Dotson acquitted himself well in his first NFL start. Filling in for injured Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro, Doston won a shout-out from coach Mike Tomlin in helping anchor an offensive line that allowed one sack.
Key number
220 — the number of games Roethlisberger has appeared in during his 17-year career, tied with Hall of Fame center Mike Webster for the most in franchise history.
Next steps
The first “Watt Bowl” will be played on Sunday when Houston defensive end J.J. Watt and the winless Texans (0-2) travels to Pittsburgh to face Steelers teammates T.J. and Derek Watt.
The game will mark the second time in 93 years that three brothers will appear in the same NFL game, but the second in the last 10 months. Pittsburgh’s Terrell and Trey Edmunds shared a field with Buffalo linebacker Tremaine last December when the Bills visited Heinz Field. All three of them played for Virginia Tech.