Steelers win over Ravens helps send Ben Roethlisberger out with bang
By Austin Lloyd
The Pittsburgh Steelers downing Baltimore in overtime was exactly what the doctor ordered in guiding Ben Roethlisberger out the door correctly.
It was a game that saw many graying hairs and beading foreheads, but it also saw another big rivalry win for legendary Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on his way out of the National Football League.
On Sunday afternoon, the Steelers visited the state of Maryland to take on their most hated adversary of the 21st century: the Baltimore Ravens. Their battle, as one could’ve expected, was strictly defensive, relying on physicality and seldom scoring.
By the end of regulation, the two AFC North powers were tied, 13-13. While preparing to duke it out in overtime, news broke that the Jacksonville Jaguars had officially upset the Indianapolis Colts, greatly smoothening the playoff paths for both Pittsburgh and Baltimore. What wouldn’t help anyone, though, was a tie.
Upon holding the Ravens to 4th down, the Steelers got the ball back into the hands of none other than Big Ben himself. Following multiple conversions on some hefty 3rd down yardage, Chris Boswell sent a game-winning field goal sailing through the uprights.
Steelers send Big Ben off right
The win might as well have clinched Pittsburgh a wild card spot in the AFC playoff bracket, as the only circumstance still capable of keeping the Steelers out is the matchup between the Chargers and Raiders ending in a tie–and what are the odds of that happening (at least by accident)?
But regardless of whether or not the Steelers make it to the postseason, one thing has been guaranteed: Ben Roethlisberger has gone out the best way possible. Sure, a Lombardi Trophy would be cool, but any playoff run following two colossal rivalry wins will be welcomed just as warmly in the Steel City today.
If the Steelers make the playoffs as expected, though, they cannot take all of the glory for doing so. As previously established, the Jacksonville Jaguars–the worst team in the league–had to pull their own weight by stunning the Colts, and boy did they.
The Jags made a fool out of Indianapolis QB Carson Wentz, while his Jacksonville counterpart Trevor Lawrence quite possibly had his best performance of the season in the latter’s 26-11 victory. Legend has it that there are chants of “DUUUVAL” still migrating down the East Coast as a result.
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Because the Chargers vs Raiders game on Sunday Night Football did not end in a tie (Raiders won in overtime), the Pittsburgh Steelers will be in the playoffs for a second straight season. With that, Ben Roethlisberger will see an exit grander than what seemed plausible just 10 days prior. And while a 7th seeding may sound a tad low, it wouldn’t be the first time that Big Ben told one heck of a Cinderella story.