Roethlisberger: Steelers Will Be Focused vs Browns
PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Steelers have every reason to be excited about Ben Roethlisberger's return on Sunday.
They're 3-1 despite playing without their starting quarterback or his backup. They've rediscovered their running game. They've had a weekend off to relax and get away from football for the first time since training camp started July 30.
And they're playing their rival - the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns (1-4) have won only one of their last 13 games and two of their last 20 against Pittsburgh, but an upset victory 11 months ago eventually prevented the Steelers from reaching the playoffs.
"I'm excited, but if you have to use me coming back as motivation against the Cleveland Browns, we've got something wrong," Roethlisberger said Monday. "It's a divisional game, an AFC North game, and that's all we should need."
That, and this score: Browns 13, Steelers 6.
That Dec. 12 loss came four days after a 27-24, last-minute defeat to Oakland at Heinz Field and stretched the reigning Super Bowl champion Steelers' losing streak to five games. Pittsburgh regrouped to win its final three over Green Bay, Baltimore and Miami, but the damage had been done.
What Roethlisberger remembers are the cold and confusion in Cleveland. Temperatures were in the single digits and, for much of the game, it seemed as if the Steelers' offensive yardage was, too, despite playing an 1-11 opponent.
The Steelers gained only 75 yards in the first half and, despite holding Cleveland scoreless in the second half, were limited to a Jeff Reed field goal after halftime. Roethlisberger was sacked eight times for 60 yards.
"They really got after us. We never want to make excuses, but we really just didn't play good football," Roethlisberger said. "It was cold and windy, but they just got after us. Point blank, and we just couldn't do anything on offense."
The Steelers expect that to be much different on Sunday, especially now that Roethlisberger will be under center in a regular season game for the first time since that 30-24 victory at Miami on Jan. 3.
Because of the Steelers' fortuitously scheduled bye, they had three days of practice with Roethlisberger last week, so they won't have to rush into getting him ready immediately after playing a game with another quarterback.
The Steelers ran effectively in their first four games - Rashard Mendenhall is No. 5 in rushing with 411 yards - even without the threat of a quarterback who could thrown downfield consistently. Without Roethlisberger or the injured Byron Leftwich (knee), they averaged a league-low 136 yards per game passing with Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch at quarterback.
All that is expected to change now that Roethlisberger is back.
"Ben's one of the best quarterbacks in the game, so I'm expecting him to get in there and make some plays," wide receiver Mike Wallace said. "And I want to be a big part of that by catching some more balls. I think we can make some more plays together, and I'm looking forward to it."
If the Steelers win - and they haven't lost at home to Cleveland since 2003 - they'll be 4-1 for the third time in four seasons before going on the road to play Miami, New Orleans and Cincinnati.
