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Pittsburgh Steelers fans got a taste of life without Ben Roethlisberger in 2019 when the quarterback was lost during a Week 2 loss for the entire season with an elbow injury. It was a rough season that saw Mason Rudolph, and Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges split time in Roethlisberger’s absence. Pittsburgh would finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs after losing three straight to end the season.
There were a couple of games that season that could stick out in your mind, but nothing that you’d say ‘wow, that was an amazing win.’ So we’re going to have to look back a lot further in the archives to find those awesome wins without Roethlisberger. So let’s get started.
The Steelers would roll into San Diego to take on the Chargers on Monday Night Football with Roethlisberger out due to a knee injury that he suffered weeks before in St. Louis. The Steelers would turn to Michael Vick to lead the team, but questionable play calls and use of Vick had limited his effectiveness. Vick was limited physically, but he still had a rocket arm, but the Steelers seemed intent on forcing Vick to throw short passes, and take zero risks.
That strategy failed the week prior as Pittsburgh dropped a close one to Baltimore 23-20. Vick would complete 19 passes on 26 attempts for a measly 124 yards. The Steelers blew a 20-7 lead and lost in overtime after failing to convert two fourth and shorts. (Sounds like 2021)
Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and head coach Mike Tomlin would handcuff Vick throughout the first half. Pittsburgh was trailing 7-3 at half time, and Vick had 83 yards passing. It wasn’t until Roethlisberger stepped in from the sidelines, and drew up the perfect play for Vick and receiver Markus Wheaton.
Ben Roethlisberger celebrates after Michael Vick hits Markus Wheaton for a 72-yard touchdown / FOX SPORTS
With Pittsburgh down 17-10, Tomlin and Haley would finally let Vick throw one down the field with Roethlisberger’s encouragement. The play would work and Wheaton would haul in a 72-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive to tie the game.
Vick gave all the credit to Roethlisberger in a post-game interview with NFL Network’s Alex Flanagan.
From that point on the game would get wild. Philip Rivers would drive the Chargers down the field and with 3:01 left in the game, Josh Lambo would nail a 54-yard field goal to put the Chargers in the lead. The drive took nearly 5 minutes off the clock and the Steelers were forced to use one of their timeouts.
After a touchback, Pittsburgh would start from their own 20-yard line. A couple quick runs by Le’Veon Bell, and two passes to Darrius Heyward-Bey would put the Steelers out near mid-field with 1:04 left on the clock. On third down and 6 from the Chargers 41, Vick would get loose up the middle for 24 yards, and after a spike, there was 17 seconds left on the clock. After an incompletion, Vick would find Heath Miller for 16 yards down to the 1-yard line. An unnecessary roughness penalty on the Chargers would stop the clock with 5 seconds left. With no timeouts left, Tomlin would gamble and keep his offense on the field instead of taking the sure tie.
The Steelers would line up in the wildcat, and Bell would take the direct snap off-tackle and force his way into the end zone for the Steelers win, 24-20.
Le’Veon Bell scores with no time left on the clock, and the Steelers beat the Chargers.
Roethlisberger would be suspended for the first 4 games of the 2010 season, and the Steelers were thought to be dead in the water. Starting the season with 3 or potentially 4 straight losses would be very costly after they missed the playoffs in 2009. Dennis Dixon would beat out Charlie Batch to replace Roethlisberger. Dixon would be shaky, but lead the Steelers to victory in Week 1 against Atlanta, 15-9. But during a Week 2 win against the Tennessee Titans, Dixon would get hurt and be relieved by Batch. The Steelers and Batch would hold on for a 19-11 win in a game that saw Antonio Brown score his first NFL touchdown on a 89-yard kick return to open the game.
Charlie Batch connects with Mike Wallace for a long touchdown.
Batch would get the start in Tampa Bay, and he would come out slinging the ball. On Pittsburgh’s third drive, Batch would connect with Mike Wallace for a 46-yard touchdown and the Steelers were off and running. On the Steelers next possession, Batch would scramble for 24 yards to set up a Rashard Mendenhall 3-yard touchdown run.
The Pittsburgh offense wasn’t done there, though. On the next possession, Batch would again find Wallace, but this time it was a 41-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers were quickly out to a 21-6 lead on the undefeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a Tampa punt, Pittsburgh would keep their foot on the pedal. This time Batch would find Hines Ward for a 9-yard touchdown pass. 28-6 at halftime.
The second half wouldn’t get any better for Tampa. Bucs’ quarterback Josh Freeman would attempt a screen pass, but Brett Keisel would intercept it and take it back 79-yards for a touchdown.
The Steelers would win 38-13.
The Steelers were on a two-game skid, and Roethlisberger had been out for both of those losses. He was hurt three weeks prior late in a win against the Kansas City Chiefs. Backup Byron Leftwich had stepped in to replace Roethlisberger, but on a long touchdown run in his first start, he would break two ribs and be lost for the season. Just like in 2010, the Steelers would be forced to turn to Batch.
This time Batch would have to take the Steelers on the road to Baltimore who they had just lost to two weeks earlier on Monday Night football at Heinz Field. The Steelers would take a 3-0 lead, but would eventually fall behind 13-3 as the second quarter ticked down. Batch only had 30 yards passing with 3:16 left in the second. Things weren’t going very well for the Steelers.
Batch would drive the Steelers into field goal range right before the half and Jeff Reed would make it a one-score game at the mid point. On the first possession of the third quarter, Batch and the offense would figure out the Ravens defense. Batch would hit Miller deep down the middle for 43 yards and the Steelers were in business. Jonathan Dwyer would eventually cap the drive off with a rushing touchdown, and just like that, it was a tie ball game.
Charlie Batch leads the Steelers down the field to tie the game in the third quarter.
With the game tied, the Ravens and Joe Flacco would respond. Flacco would take advantage of an Emmanuel Sanders’ fumble and lead Baltimore down for the go-ahead touchdown. Ray Rice would get into the end zone on a run and it was 20-13 Ravens.
The turning point of the game would come early in the fourth quarter. Flacco would drop back to pass and be stripped by James Harrison. Ziggy Hood would recover for the Steelers at the Ravens 27-yard line. Sanders would make up for his earlier fumble with a 17-yard reception down to the Ravens 7. From there, Batch would find Miller for a 7-yard touchdown and the game was knotted up again.
The Ravens would take over with a chance to go down and win the game, but after allowing a 12-yard reception on the first play of the drive, the Steelers defense would force three straight incompletions. The stage was now set for Batch and the Steelers to steal one from Baltimore.
Pittsburgh would take over from their own 15-yard line with 6:14 left in the game. From there they would be methodical, and dink and dunk their way down the field while running the clock down. Baltimore only had one timeout left by the time the Steelers took over so it was easy for them to run the clock down as they completed first down after first down. On the first play after the 2-minute warning, Batch would hit Wallace for a 10-yard gain. But Batch would be roughed on the play, and the penalty would put the Steelers into field goal range.
Pittsburgh would run the clock down to 3 seconds remaining and Shaun Suisham would knock through the winning field goal as time ran out.
Steelers Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch embrace each other after the Steelers knock off Baltimore with a last second field goal / CBS Sports
Forgotten Games: The Paper Champions Game
Forgotten Games: ‘Renegade’ Strikes Down on Tony Romo and Cowboys
Forgotten Games: Ben Roethlisberger’s 2005 Comeback In San Diego
Do you remember those games? Tell us what you think about the rankings in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
There were a couple of games that season that could stick out in your mind, but nothing that you’d say ‘wow, that was an amazing win.’ So we’re going to have to look back a lot further in the archives to find those awesome wins without Roethlisberger. So let’s get started.
#3) Steelers at Chargers – Monday, October 12, 2015
The Steelers would roll into San Diego to take on the Chargers on Monday Night Football with Roethlisberger out due to a knee injury that he suffered weeks before in St. Louis. The Steelers would turn to Michael Vick to lead the team, but questionable play calls and use of Vick had limited his effectiveness. Vick was limited physically, but he still had a rocket arm, but the Steelers seemed intent on forcing Vick to throw short passes, and take zero risks.
That strategy failed the week prior as Pittsburgh dropped a close one to Baltimore 23-20. Vick would complete 19 passes on 26 attempts for a measly 124 yards. The Steelers blew a 20-7 lead and lost in overtime after failing to convert two fourth and shorts. (Sounds like 2021)
Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and head coach Mike Tomlin would handcuff Vick throughout the first half. Pittsburgh was trailing 7-3 at half time, and Vick had 83 yards passing. It wasn’t until Roethlisberger stepped in from the sidelines, and drew up the perfect play for Vick and receiver Markus Wheaton.
Ben Roethlisberger celebrates after Michael Vick hits Markus Wheaton for a 72-yard touchdown / FOX SPORTS
With Pittsburgh down 17-10, Tomlin and Haley would finally let Vick throw one down the field with Roethlisberger’s encouragement. The play would work and Wheaton would haul in a 72-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive to tie the game.
Vick gave all the credit to Roethlisberger in a post-game interview with NFL Network’s Alex Flanagan.
From that point on the game would get wild. Philip Rivers would drive the Chargers down the field and with 3:01 left in the game, Josh Lambo would nail a 54-yard field goal to put the Chargers in the lead. The drive took nearly 5 minutes off the clock and the Steelers were forced to use one of their timeouts.
After a touchback, Pittsburgh would start from their own 20-yard line. A couple quick runs by Le’Veon Bell, and two passes to Darrius Heyward-Bey would put the Steelers out near mid-field with 1:04 left on the clock. On third down and 6 from the Chargers 41, Vick would get loose up the middle for 24 yards, and after a spike, there was 17 seconds left on the clock. After an incompletion, Vick would find Heath Miller for 16 yards down to the 1-yard line. An unnecessary roughness penalty on the Chargers would stop the clock with 5 seconds left. With no timeouts left, Tomlin would gamble and keep his offense on the field instead of taking the sure tie.
The Steelers would line up in the wildcat, and Bell would take the direct snap off-tackle and force his way into the end zone for the Steelers win, 24-20.
Le’Veon Bell scores with no time left on the clock, and the Steelers beat the Chargers.
#2) Steelers at Buccaneers – Sunday, September 26, 2010
Roethlisberger would be suspended for the first 4 games of the 2010 season, and the Steelers were thought to be dead in the water. Starting the season with 3 or potentially 4 straight losses would be very costly after they missed the playoffs in 2009. Dennis Dixon would beat out Charlie Batch to replace Roethlisberger. Dixon would be shaky, but lead the Steelers to victory in Week 1 against Atlanta, 15-9. But during a Week 2 win against the Tennessee Titans, Dixon would get hurt and be relieved by Batch. The Steelers and Batch would hold on for a 19-11 win in a game that saw Antonio Brown score his first NFL touchdown on a 89-yard kick return to open the game.
Charlie Batch connects with Mike Wallace for a long touchdown.
Batch would get the start in Tampa Bay, and he would come out slinging the ball. On Pittsburgh’s third drive, Batch would connect with Mike Wallace for a 46-yard touchdown and the Steelers were off and running. On the Steelers next possession, Batch would scramble for 24 yards to set up a Rashard Mendenhall 3-yard touchdown run.
The Pittsburgh offense wasn’t done there, though. On the next possession, Batch would again find Wallace, but this time it was a 41-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers were quickly out to a 21-6 lead on the undefeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a Tampa punt, Pittsburgh would keep their foot on the pedal. This time Batch would find Hines Ward for a 9-yard touchdown pass. 28-6 at halftime.
The second half wouldn’t get any better for Tampa. Bucs’ quarterback Josh Freeman would attempt a screen pass, but Brett Keisel would intercept it and take it back 79-yards for a touchdown.
The Steelers would win 38-13.
#1) Steelers at Ravens – Sunday, December 2, 2012
The Steelers were on a two-game skid, and Roethlisberger had been out for both of those losses. He was hurt three weeks prior late in a win against the Kansas City Chiefs. Backup Byron Leftwich had stepped in to replace Roethlisberger, but on a long touchdown run in his first start, he would break two ribs and be lost for the season. Just like in 2010, the Steelers would be forced to turn to Batch.
This time Batch would have to take the Steelers on the road to Baltimore who they had just lost to two weeks earlier on Monday Night football at Heinz Field. The Steelers would take a 3-0 lead, but would eventually fall behind 13-3 as the second quarter ticked down. Batch only had 30 yards passing with 3:16 left in the second. Things weren’t going very well for the Steelers.
Batch would drive the Steelers into field goal range right before the half and Jeff Reed would make it a one-score game at the mid point. On the first possession of the third quarter, Batch and the offense would figure out the Ravens defense. Batch would hit Miller deep down the middle for 43 yards and the Steelers were in business. Jonathan Dwyer would eventually cap the drive off with a rushing touchdown, and just like that, it was a tie ball game.
Charlie Batch leads the Steelers down the field to tie the game in the third quarter.
With the game tied, the Ravens and Joe Flacco would respond. Flacco would take advantage of an Emmanuel Sanders’ fumble and lead Baltimore down for the go-ahead touchdown. Ray Rice would get into the end zone on a run and it was 20-13 Ravens.
The turning point of the game would come early in the fourth quarter. Flacco would drop back to pass and be stripped by James Harrison. Ziggy Hood would recover for the Steelers at the Ravens 27-yard line. Sanders would make up for his earlier fumble with a 17-yard reception down to the Ravens 7. From there, Batch would find Miller for a 7-yard touchdown and the game was knotted up again.
The Ravens would take over with a chance to go down and win the game, but after allowing a 12-yard reception on the first play of the drive, the Steelers defense would force three straight incompletions. The stage was now set for Batch and the Steelers to steal one from Baltimore.
Pittsburgh would take over from their own 15-yard line with 6:14 left in the game. From there they would be methodical, and dink and dunk their way down the field while running the clock down. Baltimore only had one timeout left by the time the Steelers took over so it was easy for them to run the clock down as they completed first down after first down. On the first play after the 2-minute warning, Batch would hit Wallace for a 10-yard gain. But Batch would be roughed on the play, and the penalty would put the Steelers into field goal range.
Pittsburgh would run the clock down to 3 seconds remaining and Shaun Suisham would knock through the winning field goal as time ran out.
Steelers Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch embrace each other after the Steelers knock off Baltimore with a last second field goal / CBS Sports
OTHER FORGOTTEN GAMES
Forgotten Games: The Paper Champions Game
Forgotten Games: ‘Renegade’ Strikes Down on Tony Romo and Cowboys
Forgotten Games: Ben Roethlisberger’s 2005 Comeback In San Diego
Do you remember those games? Tell us what you think about the rankings in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
