by Bo Marchionte
Pittsburgh – “Let’s go, Ben,” chants echoed repeatedly throughout the stadium pregame, indicating a uniquely special atmosphere tonight at Heinz Field.
The vibe swirled around two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who would be bowing for his final curtain call in front of his home fans, in the Steelers 26-14 victory over the Browns.
A fitting win that helped him seal his lifetime dominance over Cleveland.
Basically, a foregone conclusion of his retirement at the end of the season, Roethlisberger did to Cleveland what he has done his entire career.
Own them.
That idea of ‘owning’ a team was made brought to fruition after three-time MVP Aaron Rodgers unleashed a flurry of words upon the Soldier Field fans earlier this season. Owning a 22-5 record against Chicago, Rodgers yelled, “All my f—king life, I own you. I still own you,” to Bears fans.
Roethlisberger shares a similar trait with Rodgers in owning the Browns, with his incredible overall record against the Browns to 26-3-1.
When Roethlisberger finally reached the podium a little after midnight on the east coast, he wasn’t there to boast on his brilliance against the Browns, but rather reflect on good fortunate of playing in the National Football League.
“I’m just so blessed to play this game,” said Roethlisberger after his 26th career win over Cleveland.
“Obviously being in the same division you play the Browns a lot. It’s never easy it seems like. These games are always physical. It’s always tough. To come out on top is all that really matters.”
Selected 11th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, it would be hard to foresee this MAC quarterback becoming a first ballot Hall of Fame candidate but is exactly how his career has played out over the course of his career that spans 18 years.
“Had awesome opportunity to kind of share in this moment with him,” said Mike Tomlin postgame who keeps his streak of no losing season intact with the win tonight. “He shared some words with his teammates and its just a beautiful thing.
“I was just appreciating the last 15 years with him. Man, we been through a lot. We seen a lot. It’s been a heck of a ride. Been one that’s been an honor to be a part of and enjoy, but that’s just largely what I was thinking at that moment.”
The win keeps Pittsburgh alive with an outside shot at making the playoffs in the Indianapolis Colts lose the Jaguars in Jacksonville this weekend. That is a predicated on the Steelers winning on the road next weekend against the Baltimore Ravens.
“Obviously we still have a bigger – we got another game,” said Roethlisberger. “There is a slim chance but got to keep fighting. But this game was very special to me.”
Roethlisberger was less than stellar in his Heinze Field finale, with a passer rating of 56.2, his lowest since Week 5 of 2017. Going 24-of-46 passing for 123 yards along with one touchdown and interception apiece, it was not memorable in his statistic performance.
With Roethlisberger eyeing retirement, the next generation of Steelers making their mark.
T.J. Watt and company fed off the crowd with a monstrous nine sacks on Baker Mayfield.
“Obviously, their front’s pretty good,” said Mayfield. “It has been for years. But when you got T.J. Watt over there and not giving our rookie tackle a whole lot of help, that’s not going to be good for him.”
Watt ended the game with four sacks that gives him 21.5 sacks on the season along with some rare company. Reggie White (57) and his brother J.J. (75) are the quickest players to reach 70-plus sacks in their careers. Watt ranks third at 76 games. The on slot of sacks reigned down on Mayfield making a power run oriented offense punch less late in the game.
Offensive for Pittsburgh, rookie Najee Harris showed why he’ll be the center point of the offense for years to come.
“Man, I’m so proud,” said Roethlisberger. “He was still sitting there when I cam over here and I just told him thank you. I said, I’m so proud of you. He’s a heck of football player. Tonight, it’s like he ran possessed tonight. Some of the things he did was just special, and he gave us this victory.”
Harris’s career-high 188 rushing yards were more than the Browns entire team (93), a Cleveland rushing attack that ranks fourth in the entire league in total yards rushing.
“Yeah, they’re behind the chains,” said Tomlin. If you’re effectively getting after the run, they’re behind the chain and they get in one dimensional circumstances. That’s no easy task.
“That’s a catalyst for what it is they do. They do a great job od staying on schedule, but we were able to get them off schedule and get them behind the chains, and when they get one dimensional, we just felt like we had an opportunity to let our talent show. Can’t say enough about our, about our coverages, because it takes both rush and coverage to produce sacks or picks or what have you. Those guys did a heck of a job tonight.”
Special contributions from special players helped Roethlisberger leave Heinz Field victorious.
Chants in the final minutes of the game, grew louder and louder.
“Let’s go, Ben,” change to “thank you, Ben.”
Roethlisberger would kneel in victory formation (which he loves) as the clock tick to double digit zeros.
He hugged teammates and coaches. High-fived fans before finally embracing his family in a moment made for the Hallmark Channel.
“I don’t know that I can,” Roethlisberger replied in describing what he just experienced. “I wish I could bottle it and have it forever. But I will in here (his heart) and in my mind.”
Ben, we wish we could bottle up your career and pass it along to the next starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, because it is going to be almost impossible to duplicate the grit and brilliance you displayed over your Hall of Fame career.
To sing in the chorus of the 63,624 in attendance.
“Thank you, Ben.”
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt