Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger: This Was A Total Team Loss, Not On Justin Bieber
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says the loss to the New York Jets was a team loss, and not because of Justin Bieber.
Roethlisberger joined The Cook and Poni Show on 93.7 The Fan for the #1 Cochran Ben Roethlisberger Show which airs every Tuesday morning at 11 am during the Steelers season.
After two great wins over the Colts and Ravens, the Steelers fell into the trap game with a 20-13 loss to the New York Jets, who were (1-8) going into the game.
"It's tough. It's frustrating," Roethlisberger said. "Obviously when we win the last couple of weeks we've had full team effort and we've done good things and this was a complete team loss."
Roethlisberger said that all of the players and coaches share in the blame for this one.
"It was not our best effort." Roethlisberger said.
Ben laughed off the idea that Justin Bieber showing up at the teams bible study the night before had anything to do with the loss.
"That's not a big deal at all," Roethlisberger said. "For instance Plaxico Burress stopped by. Obviously he is family. He is a Steelers and stuff like that. People stop by all of the time and want to say hi. We've had other athletes, other celebrities, actors and actresses. It's not a big deal at all."
Roethlisberger told said that the game was not as bad as it looked when they reviewed it on film, saying it was just a matter of a few mishaps at the worst possible times.
"It was a couple of plays that weren't made for whatever reason," Roethlisberger said. "Timing was off a bit, depths were off, protection was off, catches, just little things here and there. It wasn't anything glaring. It was just particular plays at particular moments."
Ben told the guys that they knew going into the game that the New York Jets were a better team than their (1-8) record would indicate. He said they had been in almost every game but were losing because they were turning the ball over. Sunday, those turnovers went the Jets way instead of going against them.
"Steeler fans remember at the beginning of last year we turned the ball over a lot which usually leads to a bad record," Roethlisberger said. "Sunday they didn't turn the ball over and we did and that usually can dictate the outcome of the game. We take it for what it is and we move on."
Ben was also asked about the play that had 36-year-old linebacker James Harrison playing full back on a goal line situation. Ben said the play was supposed to be a pass and Harrison should not have been on the field.
"James is not supposed to be in the game on the pass. He is supposed to be in the game on the run and James came on the field and the pass play got called," Roethlisberger said. 'I don't know where the confusion came from but it was not the right play call and it's not worth burning a timeout, you try and make it happen and it didn't work and then obviously we still have the ball first and goal at the one or one inch line and we run it on the next two plays and we lose yards so those are things that can't happen."
Ben also talked about the final play of the game when safety Mike Mitchell jumped the line during the Jets victory formation saying if the roles were reversed it would not have sat to well with the Steelers players. He said it would have brought the guys off the bench and it would not have been good.
The Steelers sit at (6-4) and tied for last place in the AFC North with 6 games left to play starting with a Monday Night game coming up in Tennessee. Ben says it's all about getting hot at the right time and it must begin with getting this one before the bye week.
"Were far from out of it," Roethlisberger said. "As everyone in Steeler nation knows it's all; about when you get hot. Our Super Bowl and playoff runs we got hot at the right times so if we can get hot and put wins together and start playing great football than we will be just fine."
That would require a win in Tennessee where Ben says he has never won. He knows it will be another tough game playing there in primetime but all the focus needs on getting a win before the bye week and then getting healthy and rested before the home stretch and a possible playoff run.
The Steelers and Titans will kick off at 8:30 pm Monday night from LP Field in Tennessee.
You can listen to the full interview below and you can hear The #1 Cochran Ben Roethlisberger show LIVE every Tuesday at 11 am during the football season on The Cook and Poni Show on Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM).
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