![]() ![]() Special West Virginia betting promotion! Bet $1 on the Pittsburgh Steelers money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if the Steelers score a touchdown vs. And Pittsburgh found its first franchise quarterback since the retirement of Terry Bradshaw 20 years earlier. ![]() In the blink of an eye, the Tommy Maddox era was over, and the Ben Roethlisberger era had begun. The New England Patriots defeated Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game, 41-27. It would be the first of 14 straight wins for Roethlisberger’s Steelers to end the regular season 15-1. With that, Big Ben became the first rookie of the 2004 NFL Draft class to start a game the following week (versus the Miami Dolphins). He finished the game with two touchdowns, 176 yards, and a passer rating of 83. The sack affected his game for the better, however, as Roethlisberger’s two subsequent passes were complete, the second a 58-yard bomb to a smiling Ward on a critical 3rd-and-long.Īfter a Duce Staley run for no gain, it was second down and three to go when Roethlisberger dropped back and threw his first career touchdown to Antwan Randel El for Pittsburgh’s first points of the day.īen’s second touchdown was a 12-yarder to Ward, followed on the next drive by his second interception, returned 51-yards for a touchdown.ĭespite the two picks, Roethlisberger showed a veteran’s poise under high-pressure circumstances. The first play of his next drive resulted in a sack for an 11-yard loss. While his second drive resulted in a punt, Ben did manage to go 2-for-2. Roethlisberger quickly shook off the rookie nerves during Baltimore’s 3-and-out drive. His second, intended for Hines Ward, was intercepted. Roethlisberger’s first pass, intended for Plaxico Burress, was incomplete. The Steelers had good field position for Roethlisberger’s first go, as Ravens punter Dave Zastudil sent the ball down the field just 31 yards.įrom Pittsburgh’s 41-yard line, the quarterback we would soon dub “Big Ben” went to work. As the rookie physically and mentally prepared on the sideline, the defense kept Baltimore from inflicting further damage on their ensuing drive. With little time to get Roethlisberger warmed up, the Steelers ran the ball on five consecutive plays and punted. Jamal Lewis ran it in, and, just like that, Pittsburgh was down by 20 with not so much as a field goal on the scoreboard. Maddox’s fumble was recovered by lineman Terrell Suggs and returned 24 yards to the Steelers 1-yard line. ![]()
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