Though there are a laundry list of reasons for why the Pittsburgh Steelers have been unable to stay consistent during an increasingly frustrating 7-5 campaign, one of the biggest reasons of late is the poor play of Ben Roethlisberger.
After a two-game stretch that was among the best in NFL history, Roethlisberger has been unable to find the same passing touch that had him throw for nearly 900 yards, 12 TD’s, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 143.5 in back to back contests against the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens.
Just a few weeks ago we were talking about Roethlisberger carrying the team on his shoulders against two of the best teams in the AFC and playing like a truly elite franchise quarterback. There was even talk of Roethlisberger as a legitimate MVP candidate. Today, we are left scratching our heads after his poor play against the New Orleans Saints was a key factor to the Steelers now looking at an uphill climb not only to win the AFC North, but to make the playoffs at all.
Though it is easy to look for scapegoats, and there are plenty to be found, it is fair to point to Roethlisberger as one of the biggest, especially in games he should be expected to thrive. In the past three game against the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and Saints, Roethlisberger has not played like a quarterback that can be mentioned in the same breath as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or Aaron Rodgers.
During this 1-2 span against teams with a combined record of 9-26, Roethlisberger has put up numbers that would leave him out of the discussion of the league’s top QB’s. Though he has averaged 328 yards a game, he’s also thrown more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four), and his passer rating is an uninspiring 79.8.
Bear in mind, not only have the Jets, Titans, and Saints struggled for wins, all three have been relatively poor against the pass, ranking 13th, 18th, and 28th in the league respectively. Much like the Steelers in general, it seems that Roethlisberger has played down to the level of the competition of late. If that continues, it’s hard to see a scenario that will allow the Steelers to reach the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
Maybe it’s time to look at Roethlisberger when it comes to the lack of results on the field?
Case in point was Sunday against the Saints.
In a game that Roethlisberger himself called a must win, inaccurate passes and questionable decisions were the theme for most of the game. Though a late fourth quarter barrage with the game out of reach padded the yards and put two passing TD’s on the board, the reality was Roethlisberger did not do enough to help his team win.
With chances to charge out to a commanding first quarter lead, missed passes and poor decisions relegated the Steelers to field goals instead of touchdowns. Many of Roethlisberger’s passes were going high or completely missed their target, and though it’s easy to factor in the apparent wrist injury he sustained in the first half, the fact is many of the passes he missed happened before that play.
Both interceptions proved costly, as a second quarter interception by Kenny Vaccaro on a forced Roethlisberger pass into double coverage turned into an 80-yard touchdown drive orchestrated by the Saints franchise signal caller, Drew Brees. The second interception by Cameron Jordan deep in Steeler territory would lead to a third quarter touchdown converted by Brees that would stretch the Saints lead to 21-6.
That touchdown seemed to take all the wind out of the Heinz Field crowd, and left the Steelers playing catch up the rest of the second half. Again, though Roethlisberger was able to get the Steelers passing attack going late in the fourth quarter, and padded the statistics in the box score, by that point it was a case of too little, too late.
Though it would be unfair to blame Roethlisberger entirely for the Steelers woes, there needs to be an expectation that if you want to be considered a truly elite QB in 2014 and beyond, you must find a way to play better in this stretch of critical, must win games.
It’s hard not to at least give pause to the idea of paying a player as important as Roethlisberger upwards of $25 million per season and not make the playoffs for three straight years. It’s probably fair to think similar questions would be asked in New England, Denver, and Green Bay.
With contract extension talks on the horizon, and a number of tough roster decisions coming this offseason, it’s time for Roethlisberger to play at the level of an elite quarterback. Otherwise, this franchise will not only miss the playoffs again, they will have to seriously consider how much they can invest in Roethlisberger long term.
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
