Ben Roethlisberger’s concussion related absence from the Steelers lineup will only last one game, according to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
Of course, Tomlin publicly said Roethlisberger was starting at this time last week. In reality, the Steelers made the decision to sit Roethlisberger before telling anyone.
Pittsburgh’s margin for error in the AFC playoff race was eroded after its loss in Baltimore, so Roethlisberger’s return will be welcome.
Big Ben worked out Monday and “felt fine afterward.” This was in contrast to last week, when Roethlisberger experienced headaches after each practice. (Of course, they said he felt great last week too.)
Tomlin also says Hines Ward’s comments have effectively been squashed.
“I spoke to Hines last night,” Tomlin said. “He
called me and it was a good, clean conversation. He assured me that
this football team will be ready to prepare for and ultimately play
Oakland when we come here [Wednesday].”
The injury news wasn’t all good Tuesday. Troy Polamalu is not expected to return for the Raiders game.
And if the Steelers can’t beat Oakland at home without Polamalu, they have much bigger problems than we think.
Plenty of reasons for why this team’s underachieved this year… let’s see if it’s behind them now. The Steelers need not just to beat the Raiders, but bury them. And use it as a springboard a la 2005. No more flukey losses to the Bengals and Chiefs etc. Now we’ll see what kind of coach Tomlin is, too.
I wonder what Heinz Ward thinks about Polamalu being such a wuss.
goodie goodie gumdrops. I can’t wait…
“I wonder what Heinz Ward thinks about Polamalu being such a wuss.”
lol, yeah totally. Whines Hard needs to remember he’s not the franchise player Ben is and more precaution is going to be taken.
Raiduhs-win
Clowns-win
Packers-win
Gayvens-easy win
Dolphins-won’t matter, but likely a win
Result: playoff birth. Healthy Ben and Polamalu
End result: Don’t be surprised if the Steelers come out of the AFC rep in SB 44.
Flukey losses to the Bengals? Child, please!
@Frank Burns:
FLUKEY losses?
Man, what a jerk you are.
You ARE what your record SAYS you are. The Steelers are 6-5. A mediocre team with a mediocre record. Stop being a homer.
@Katmandu
It takes a lot of balls to sit there and chalk up ANY game as an “win” or “easy win.”
Pittsburgh lost to the Chiefs. Even when they’ve beaten bad teams (Detroit, Cleveland), they’ve looked pretty mediocre in doing so. Championship teams are supposed to steamroll those kinds of teams. Pittsburgh hasn’t done that. I doubt we’ll see them do it going forward.
Even if we make the playoffs, this year’s Pittsburgh squad looks more like 2006 or 2007 than 2005 or 2008. They’re inconsistent, they have too many problems, and they have too many injuries.
It pains me to say it as a Steelers fan, but beating Minnesota and Denver back-to-back was probably the high point of the year – unless I see a drastic turnaround in these next 5 weeks, this team has all the looks of a one-and-done wildcard.
FavreDollarFootlong…
When we looked mediocre beating the bad teams that’s nothing new to the Steelers. We (unfortunately) have a bad history of playing down to our level of competition (see the Chiefs game for a PERFECT expample). So that’s not as troubling to me personally as it may be for someone else or for fans of other teams. As long as we win I don’t give a sh*t. This year it seems there are no easy wins and there haven’t been any games where we’ve been dominated though either. So at least that’s somewhat good.
I do agree with your take that they are playing very inconsistently right now, and I’m honestly not making excuses, but a seemingly clueless offensive coordinator and key injuries can do that to a team (I think a lot of the focus goes to Troy and Aaron Smith isn’t brough up enough when talking about key injuries). Another thing, the defense is getting a lot of heat, despite being ranked #1 overall. I think a lot of their performances this year (when giving up a lead in the 4th or not) have been very solid, only to be put in horrid situations late in games thanks to the genius (detect the sarcasm) offensive strategy of Bruce Arians.
I can half-agree that the team has the look of a one-and-done wildcard but I don’t think that’ll be the case. There’s still 5 weeks left, which, in reality, is a lot of time. We CAN pull things together these last couple weeks, get Troy healthy and make a strong run for the playoffs.
Any fan here who is idiotic enough to claim the Raiders of Browns as easy wins this year is either mildly retarded, or such a blind homer that they’re pretty much the reason Steeler fans get a bad rap. Honestly though, people like to argue more than they like to talk, especially when hiding behind a computer screenname, so I do see there are plently of inflammatory remarks here whose sole purpose is to only incite the Steeler fans. Which is sad. If more people came here to bullsh*t football instead of insult and talk nonsense I’m sure that people would be impressed with a lot more fans than just those from the Steelers fan base.
frank burns is an ass bengals beat the steelers twice. Iam long time steelers fan the best team won enough said.
frank burns is an ass the bengals beat the steelers twice. enough said. Iam along time steelers fan the best team won.
Why bother starting Roethlisberger? They have Dixon now, right Florrio?
Didn’t Arians coordinate last year’s offense? One year from genius to jackass. There is a fine line between winning and losing in the NFL. Steelers weren’t dominant in either of their SB years, and you don’t have to be. They made a few plays here and there to win the close ones. The mark of a very good team, to be sure, but not necessarily a dominant one. They may make those plays at some point this year, but haven’t been so far.
Most teams have injuries. Bengals have lost Odom and Rivers or Benson haven’t played in 3 weeks, but somehow are 8-3. I didn’t hear Steeler fans offering up excuses when they beat Cincy in ’05 without Palmer and Henry.
When in my post did I say that Arians was EVER a good OC??? I didn’t like him last hear, and I’m even more fed up with the guy this year. What do you expect when you get someone from Cleveland?
I don’t recall claiming that the Steelers were dominant in any of those years either. Well, last year their defense was, and you CAN’T argue that at all. Their defense was the reason they made it to the SB last year, not the offense.
Again…I’m seeing a trend here….I didn’t claim that the Steelers are the only team riddled with inuries either. But the anchor of your defensive line along with the best safety in the game will affect you. As I said in my post above, which you obviously skimmed through and didn’t read, the defense hasn’t absoulutely been horrible without these guys. Have they let up some big plays? Yes, but in many situations, not all…but many, our defense didn’t have to be in those positions. They were put there by an offense that seems inept at time despite the talent on the field.
I’m not offering up excuses, I’m trying to have a conversation here. Excuses is bringing up Carson Palmer going down 4 years after the fact! Why would the Steeler fans offer up excuses when they beat Cincy in ’05? Wouldn’t it be the Cincy fans offering up excuses? I mean…the Bengals are the ones that lost after all.
There is no excuses as to why the Bengals beat us. Where in my post did I say that genius??? You beat us fair and square both games. Christ almighty. Talk about defensive. I WASN’T EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE BENGALS! God I pray we make the playoffs just so we can play the Bengals. We have a history of knocking/keeping you guys out.
Lets not forget the 2005 season when the Steelers were a 7-5 team… and Super Bowl XL Champions. Bengals were AFC North champs that year too. See you in February…
Bengals Steelers 09/27/09
Total Yards
Steelers 373
Bengals 273
Time of Possession
Steelers 34:42
Bengals 25:18
Avg. Per Play
Steelers 6.2
Bengals 4.7
Dropped touchdown passes
Steelers 1
Bengals 0
This one was a fluke win, sorry… the second game I’ll give you, not this one. Holmes ran the wrong route, which gave Joseph the cheese TD pick return. The Bengals needed Sweed to drop a TD pass and for Holmes to run the wrong route to squeak this one out. How quickly we forget.
The Bengals’ first win over the Steelers was a fluke. The Steelers dominated, and only their unforced errors — not great plays on the part of the Bengals — allowed them to lose.
Fluke win. End of discussion.
I guess we are going to find out how good a coach Tomlin really is or he just was very fortunate to take over a great team from Cowher.
I love these Benagal fans that have to keep coming on to steeler messages and keep reminding us (them) how good they are. Ok, you won the last field goal fest btw us. WOW! i know, you have to beat the best, to be the best. Keep telling yourself how good the bengals are (lost to oakland). IF they get into the playoffs, which i am sure they will (although they lose 2 more games for sure), i say one and done just like 2005. You guys are starting to sound like Browns fans! ok, we know the steelers are the best year after year, but their is more to a season than just beating us. Lose the 1st playoff game, and you might as well have lost 16 games. Doesnt mean a thing, unless you can win a superbowl (just ask us, we have 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
@Vox’s Mommy …
You’re right about how everyone is overlooking Aaron Smith. His absence has spelled disaster for us in the past, and we can’t look forward to getting him back down the road like we can Troy.
Still, I think we can do better. Arians can do a better job calling games when he wants–he proved that last year and last night. Tomlin has promised to unleash hell in December. I don’t know how he plans to do it. But I think it can be done. And I’d love to see it. If we do nothing more than make the playoffs and knock out the Bengals, I’ll be satisfied.
Im glad some other Steeler fans are finally calling out Arians… He sucked last yr too for those who want to bring that up. Ive never been a fan of his.. I feel our players teach him more than he teaches them..
The Bengal fans are cutesy…LOL … Last yr they hid behind their jailbird team n said nothing.. hahah funny how a few wins can bring out the trashbags again..I dont recall any Bengal fans even showing up to chat let alone watch the games.. Maybe it was all T.J’s fault.LOL
Good Luck in the playoffs..and be sure when you lose you come around.. we would all love to see ya
Lol Deb maybe Tomlin unleashes hell means he too is sick and tired of Harrison being held n hes gonna tell him DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO! LOL!!! .
@Steeler-lady … Hey, I’d like to see that!!! You know Harrison could unleash some hell!!! LOL
Boy, talk about touching a nerve. Maybe you didn’t read my post which was rather complimentary to the Steelers. I was responding in general to the board. My reference to injuries was that people seem to think since Polamalu and Smith are out the Steelers are losing. No Steeler fans told me that Cincy lost in ’05 because Palmer (one of the best QBs at the time as Polamalu is one of the best safetys) was out. PIT won. Just like these teams are winning vs PIT without your best players. Most Steeler fans I talk to think that when they lose its Polamalu is hurt, but it doesn’t matter if their opponent has any significant injuries.
All I’m saying is Arians coordinated a SB winning team that scored on the last drive because that dominant defense gave up a lead in the fourth quarter against a 9-7 football team from a weak division. My post didn’t say a word about the Bengals being better than the Steelers. As for Sweed dropping passes, that’s no fluke and you forgot the most important stat : 23-20.
hey Chuck,Did you know BEN orchastrated that game winning SUPERBOWL drive?? All those plays were AUDIBLES FROM THE LINE BY BEN…not Arians.
Theres one stat and one stat only you should always remember.. STEELERS -6 Lombardis.. Bengals-0
lol How come when we lose it cant be about injuries but when other teams lose its ALWAYS about injuries. We been listening to whiners since Carson went down… lol such double standards.
I see the Bengals fans have stopped commenting on my fluke win comment now that I’ve shown them the numbers. It was a fluke win, and is why the Bengals are more a fraud than a contender.
As for the idea that Carson Palmer is an “elite” QB — yeah that’s why Cincy is running a run-based offense and relying on defense to win. As I’ve said before, the Bengals have realized that he’s not a true franchise QB like Ben, and have adapted. A smart move on their part, which is paying off now.
The steelers can’t drop one more. Because if Baltimore wins out but loses to pitt, the Ravens own the tiebreaker b/c of Pitt’s early season loss to Chicago.
Frank Burns I repeat: Limas Sweed dropping passes is no fluke.
Steeler Lady: Arians is OC, he installs plays. Ben may have picked them, but they are Arians’ plays.
Chuck Norris…
You’re right, Arians does install the plays. That doesn’t change the fact though that Steeler fans have had beef with this guy before this year. We were winning last year and our defense was bailing us out of games. When you have a dominant defense like that it takes heat off of the offense. Now our defense isn’t making the splash plays, we need the offense to step up. And it’s not happening despite the mulititude of talent on the field. It’s the overall game management and strategy that is lacking. Not the plays themselves.
Even last year I never once heard anyone say Arians is anything more than “average”….at best. Now his incompetence is being exposed b/c the defense isn’t winning games for him with splash plays. That ulitmately leads to our defense being on the field at inopportune times. I admit against the Ravens and even the Chiefs (for God’s sake!) the defense let up too many big plays late. But every other game our defense has been put into tight spots at the end of games
b/c of the inept offense.