Despite Week 16 Woes, Ben Roethlisberger Holds Keys to Playoffs for Steelers

Where quarterback Ben Roethlisberger goes, so go the Pittsburgh Steelers. While not every team in the NFL leans as heavily on its man under center, Pittsburgh's identity has become its offense. And when the offense is not performing, losses commonly follow.

Such was the case Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers fell, 20-17, and their playoff hopes may have also been dashed depending on how the final week of the regular season plays out.

The run game wasn't the issue. Running back DeAngelo Williams had 100 yards and two touchdowns on his 17 carries. But Roethlisberger's fourth game of the year with multiple interceptions thrown was. Just as in two of the other three, the turnovers directly led to a Steelers' loss.

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Roethlisberger completed 24 of his 34 pass attempts for 215 yards and zero touchdowns. Ravens linebacker Daryl Smith and cornerback Jimmy Smith each picked him off, with the turnovers translating into 10 Baltimore points. Another potential interception by Jimmy Smith at the Ravens goal line would have gone for six points had linebacker Courtney Upshaw not lined up in the neutral zone.

This is not the kind of quarterback performance that will lead the Steelers to a playoff appearance, or wins should they get there. Roethlisberger must play better in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns may be a three-win team, but turning the ball over as Roethlisberger did in Week 16 can open the door for any team to earn a victory.

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It would be one thing if the Steelers had a defense that performed at a consistently high level to make up for the times when Roethlisberger is off his game, but they don't. For better or for worse, Roethlisberger is the locus of this team. And when he's good, he's very good—often there's no quarterback who can touch him—but when he's bad, the Steelers lose.

The good news is that the Steelers still have a path to the playoffs and Roethlisberger has been here before. He's played poorly and bounced back numerous times in his career. This isn't uncharted territory. Thus, there should be little concern that the multi-interception performance will repeat itself in Cleveland next week.

Except it could. In the five road games Roethlisberger has appeared in this season, he's thrown only two touchdown passes to seven interceptions. Being a visitor has not been a comfortable spot for Roethlisberger this year.

This is why he needs to redouble his efforts, his focus and do whatever it takes to help his team win, rather than hurt it as he did against Baltimore. The playoffs are on the line, and Roethlisberger must step up to that pressure rather than crumble under it. 

Because Williams can rush for two scores. The defense can get sacks and key stops. But if Roethlisberger is struggling, the hole he's capable of digging is a difficult one to crawl out of.

Will Roethlisberger turn things around against the Browns and resuscitate the Steelers' playoff hopes? We don't know. But that he is more than capable of doing so should provide some comfort after such a brutal loss in Baltimore.