We’ve seen every statistic that showed how the Steelers can’t beat the Ravens without Ben Roethlisberger. It has been all over the place since Roethlisberger went down after a sack in the second half of the Steelers’ Monday Night Football game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Steelers’ backup quarterback Charlie Batch told the sports world to take those statistics and shove them where the sun doesn’t shine after he led the Steelers past the Ravens Sunday evening. Batch, who was drafted in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft, is in his fifteenth season as a pro and his ninth season with the Steelers. He has had nine starts for the black and gold since coming to the Steelers in 2002. Over those nine starts Batch has led the Steelers to six wins with 1,652 passing yards and nine touchdowns.
After an atrocious outing against the Browns where Batch passed for 199 yards and threw three interceptions, Batch passed for 276 yards against the Ravens with one touchdown pass. The 276 yards was the most that Batch has thrown for since joining the Steelers and his one touchdown pass was the first he has thrown since Sept. 26, 2010 when he hit Hines Ward in the back of the end zone against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This win was monumental for the Steelers playoff push.
After the game winning field goal, Batch was caught in an emotional moment hugging Roethlisberger with tears in his eyes. While watching this take place, you can’t help to think that this couldn’t happen to a better guy.
Batch, a Homestead, Pa. native has been an active player in giving back to the community and making a difference in the Pittsburgh area ever since joining the Steelers. Batch developed the Best of Batch Foundation in 2000 in order to create programs that directly impact the youth of financially challenged communities throughout Pittsburgh. Also, being Ben Roethlisberger’s backup is not an easy task by any standards.
One moment Batch would be holding the clip board on the sidelines, and in the blink of an eye he would have to lead a two minute drill as Roethlisberger was being tended to by the trainers. Amazingly under these circumstances, Batch has still been one of the most reliable backup quarterbacks in the league.
Another factor in which made this win mean so much more was the fact that one must think Batch is nearing the end of his career. Knowing that Roethlisberger is within a week of making his return, this may have been the last chance that Batch would have to be the leader of the Steelers offense. While this may not rank with Jerome Bettis riding into the sunset after the Steelers defeated the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, putting up career high numbers against the rival Ravens in the middle of a playoff push is right up there as well.
Photo Credits: WTAE
