NFL Playoff Picture: Steelers Must Rest Ben Roethlisberger to Win Super Bowl

The Steelers can win each of their next two games without Ben Roethlisberger. But that doesn't matter.

If you told me right now that the Steelers will go 0-2 against the Rams and Browns without Ben Roethlisberger, I would still say that he needs to be benched.

The Steelers can afford going 0-2 over these next two games. They're still going to the playoffs, and this is a team that has won three playoff games on the road to get to and win a Super Bowl before. They know it can be done. 

Here's the ultimate problem.

Even if the Steelers go 2-0 in their next two games, they're still probably looking at a Wild Card spot. Remember, they currently have the same record as the Ravens, who own the tiebreaker between the two teams. The Ravens have two games against teams that they have already beaten. Odds are certainly in their favor to go 2-0. 

But it ultimately boils down to Roethlisberger. The Steelers don't run the ball well enough to win in the playoffs without him. 

Anyone who saw Monday Night Football knows that Roethlisberger was clearly not 100 percent. He's dealing with a serious injury, and his mobility won't get any better if he's playing every week. Even if they go 2-0 with him and get a bye week, one week off isn't going to do enough good.

This an injury that's only healed with time.

I know; I've had it. There's no training process you can go through to speed up the healing. It makes no difference if you're a great athlete or not. Time is the only thing that can make a difference. And the time between games isn't going to do it. 

Think about it: Roethlisberger played his last game before Monday on Thursday. He had a near bye week in between games and still put on his best JaMarcus Russell impersonation against the 49ers.

If he doesn't play for the rest of the season, Roethlisberger is looking at three to four weeks before he has to play again, depending on whether or not the Steelers earn a bye. That's still a short healing time, but it gives him a chance. Playing week to week banged up is only going to add to the pain and make the injury worse.

The AFC is loaded this year. The Steelers won't win the conference championship getting performances from Roethlisberger like the one that they got on Monday. Those performances aren't going to get any better unless he's given time to heal.

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