Big Ben hurts cause

By Mike Prisuta
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Monday, November 10, 2008

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 09: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes with pressure from Robert Mathis #98 and Keyunta Dawson #96 of the Indianapolis Colts on November 9, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Colts won 24-20. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

For the record, the game was lost when the Steelers failed on consecutive snaps to advance the ball 1 yard against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL.

Jam it in there, with the score 17-17 midway through the fourth quarter, and the outcome would have been different.

But the Steelers didn't, and it wasn't.

The confounding 24-20 loss they absorbed at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts stands as a sudden indictment of a team that just a week ago was feeling better about itself than anyone in the Washington, D.C. region this side of Barack Obama.

This one has the potential to leave a mark, particularly on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was as red-eyed afterward as he was remorseful.

"You'll never hear me say 'I' anything, but I lost this game," Roethlisberger said.

He was referring to two hideous interceptions, one of which got the Colts off the deck late in the first half and one of which set the table for the game-winning TD after the Steelers couldn't run the ball three feet and instead settled for three points.

Roethlisberger also was intercepted on the game's final play, but by then, the issue wasn't whether the Steelers would steal back the game but whether Roethlisberger could heave the ball into the end zone from the Indianapolis 27-yard line.

Or so it seemed.

The task at hand appeared to have become that much of a struggle for Big Ben.

The INTs were far from the only gaffes that precipitated an uncharacteristic Steelers collapse.

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 09: Mewelde Moore #21 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Tim Jennings #23 of the Indianapolis Colts on November 9, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Colts won 24-20. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Ike Taylor muffed an interception that turned into a touchdown for the Colts.

Troy Polamalu dropped an interception that should have turned into a touchdown for the Steelers.

To be fair, Marvin Harrison dropped two passes that should have been six for Indy, so perhaps those things have a way of evening out.

But as mistakes are assessed and accountability is demanded from a Steelers Nation that ought to be nervous now that Baltimore has drawn even in the AFC North Division, don't forget the decision to play Roethlisberger in the first place.

That was the Steelers' first mistake.

Coach Mike Tomlin disagreed, refusing to acknowledge Roethlisberger's condition -- offensive coordinator Bruce Arians estimated him to be "80 percent" -- or all of the practice time he's missed of late.

"I'm not going to make that the story, and neither is (Roethlisberger)," Tomlin said.

That doesn't mean it isn't the story.

Despite final numbers that included 30 completions in 42 attempts and 284 yards passing despite the three interceptions, Roethlisberger was weak-armed and inaccurate -- relatively speaking -- throughout.

Numerous passes were dropped because the ball was too high, low, far in front or far behind the receiver, and numerous completions didn't net the yardage they could have because it was too hard to catch the ball in the first place.

By game's end, Roethlisberger couldn't even get the ball in the vicinity of Mewelde Moore, who was about 6 yards away at the time.

That's not the franchise quarterback upon which the Steelers depend.

Until Roethlisberger can be that again, he shouldn't be playing.

Jamming the ball in from the 1 would have made that less of an issue, but no less of a dilemma that must be confronted.

Mike Prisuta is a columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com or 412-320-7923.