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Big Ben Back to Beginning: Facing Ravens (Roethlisberger/Steelers Try One More)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | 12/26/04 | Ed Bouchette

Posted on 12/26/2004 7:31:24 AM PST by beyond the sea

Ben Roethlisberger can take it full circle today against the Ravens. Back on Sept. 19 in Baltimore, the rookie quarterback was flung into the NFL's high seas, sink or swim. Today, he can skipper the Steelers to the AFC's treasure island, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

"That first game, he got his feet wet,'' receiver Hines Ward said. "He's in the water now."

Roethlisberger went from "some little young kid who's just out of college" -- Alan Faneca's infamous description -- to royalty in Pittsburgh in the past three months. He's 12-0, a Pro Bowl alternate, Dapper Dan Man of the Year, a David Letterman guest, Big Ben, with sandwiches and untold babies named after him. He hasn't lost in the past 25 games, going back to his days at Miami (Ohio), as a starter. He did taste losing Sept. 19 when he replaced injured Tommy Maddox early in the third quarter and threw two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 30-13 Ravens victory.

It is the only Steelers loss in a 13-1 season. One more victory, either today or next Sunday in Buffalo, would earn the Steelers a bye in the first round of the playoffs, setting the stage for two victories at home to reach the Super Bowl in Jacksonville.

(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afc; football; nfl; playoffs; ravens; rookie; steelers; streak; superbowl
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one more time?
1 posted on 12/26/2004 7:31:25 AM PST by beyond the sea
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To: beyond the sea

I don't see any way the Ravens can win this game. They managed only ten points last week against the weak Colts D - how will they do against the Steelers? And the Ravens vaunted 'D' is in decline. And if they lose this game the playoffs are gone too.


2 posted on 12/26/2004 7:34:45 AM PST by Rummyfan
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To: Rummyfan
And if they lose this game the playoffs are gone too.

That's motivation. I'm just glad we have this one at home. Crowd noise at Heinz is the 12th man on the field.

3 posted on 12/26/2004 7:36:12 AM PST by Glenn (The two keys to character: 1) Learn how to keep a secret. 2) ...)
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To: beyond the sea
Time for Ben to silence any remaining doubters.

BTW, could any team have an easier schedule than the Eagles?

4 posted on 12/26/2004 7:36:52 AM PST by airborne (Happy Birthday Jesus!!)
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To: Americanwolf; Terpfen; annyokie; xsmommy; Willie Green; WinOne4TheGipper; Prime Choice; Beckwith; ..
The Super Bowl also is where no rookie quarterback has gone, at least not as a starter.

"It's hard to think of him as a rookie because I think he's earned the respect of all the veteran guys," said Jerome Bettis, a 12-year veteran. "Just through his play, how he's been able to manage the games and be consistent enough to win football games. The notion of the rookie kind of went out the door after we started winning and he didn't play like a rookie." ------

******

Snow flurries and around 23 degrees herein the 'Burgh right now. Ben's been looking real happy all week in the papers and in the news. Here's hoping he's still smiling at around 4:15 p.m. today.

Yoi, double yoi!

5 posted on 12/26/2004 7:37:28 AM PST by beyond the sea (A man who says he can see through women is missing a lot.)
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To: beyond the sea

Here we go, Steelers! Here we go!

6 posted on 12/26/2004 7:38:39 AM PST by Petronski (Don't ask me about my pneumonia...it's making me very cranky.)
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To: airborne

Anybody that's still doubting Ben now will never be silenced. That being said I'm really glad the Dolphins beat the Pats Monday and gave my beloved Steelers a game of cushion. This is one of the games I've been fearing since we beat the Pats and got the tie-breaker for home field.


7 posted on 12/26/2004 7:41:34 AM PST by discostu (mime is money)
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To: airborne; Glenn; Rummyfan
BTW, could any team have an easier schedule than the Eagles?

Nearly anyone in the NFC.

Ben's looking real relaxed this week as Burress seems to be coming back to try to cause some mayhem. I hear martin_fierro is in the 'Burgh this weekend, so maybe the great one is right there on the 50 yard line....... or better yet, out in the parking lot mooching barbecued ribs and beer from some faithful Stiller fans!

8 posted on 12/26/2004 7:41:39 AM PST by beyond the sea (A man who says he can see through women is missing a lot.)
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To: beyond the sea

The article seems a bit ambiguous to me: a win today not only gets Pittsburgh the bye, but also guarantees home field advantage throughout.


9 posted on 12/26/2004 7:41:54 AM PST by Petronski (Don't ask me about my pneumonia...it's making me very cranky.)
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To: beyond the sea
one more time?

Yes, one more time. Win today, lose next week, help Buffalo get into the playoffs : ^ )

10 posted on 12/26/2004 7:42:21 AM PST by fhayek
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To: beyond the sea

And in the voice of Myron Cope "What's going on down there???"


11 posted on 12/26/2004 7:42:34 AM PST by Rummyfan
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To: beyond the sea
Looks like I'll be watching the game from the Giant Center in Hershey. I have tickets for a 5 PM hockey game. Hershey Bears vs. Norfolk Admirals.

GO STEELERS!!!

12 posted on 12/26/2004 7:42:50 AM PST by airborne (Happy Birthday Jesus!!)
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To: E Rocc

Here you go. Stick to what you know.


13 posted on 12/26/2004 7:44:30 AM PST by dennisw (G_D: Against Amelek for all generations.)
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To: beyond the sea

No fan of the Eagles here. But they don't make the schedule and can only play the opponents they are presented with. They also benefit by being in the NFC Least. However, their season just went out with TO. Oh they'll beat the Rams and whomever they play next week, but the playoffs are another matter.


14 posted on 12/26/2004 7:45:27 AM PST by Rummyfan
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To: beyond the sea

Word on the street is that the Steelers' locker room ain't the happy place it should be at this point. Some of the veterans seem to think Big Ben is getting a little too big for his britches.


15 posted on 12/26/2004 7:46:37 AM PST by Wolfie
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To: beyond the sea

Plaxico Burress will start today!!!


16 posted on 12/26/2004 7:48:35 AM PST by airborne (Happy Birthday Jesus!!)
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To: Petronski

"Right now I feel pretty good," Burress said. "I'm going to give it a go and play and do the things I'm capable of doing."

Burress fully tested his hamstring for the first time Wednesday in practice and felt tightness the next day.

"It was a little sore," he said. "But I think it was all the muscles around the hamstring. I feel a lot better now."

He practiced each day this week, returning to the first team, returning to patterns that whisked him downfield. So fast was Burress on one occasion, he needed to decelerate to catch a long pass from Ben Roethlisberger Thursday.


17 posted on 12/26/2004 7:49:27 AM PST by airborne (Happy Birthday Jesus!!)
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To: Wolfie; Petronski; beyond the sea
Guess who the backup QB for the Ravens is??

Hee hee hee!

18 posted on 12/26/2004 7:51:34 AM PST by airborne (Happy Birthday Jesus!!)
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To: Rummyfan
And if they lose this game the playoffs are gone too.
With their record wouldn't they at least get a wildcard spot? Not an expert - just asking ... ;-)
19 posted on 12/26/2004 7:51:47 AM PST by Tunehead54 (Repeal the 22nd Amendment!)
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To: dennisw
Here you go. Stick to what you know.
I know I hate both these teams....LOL.

-Eric

20 posted on 12/26/2004 7:51:49 AM PST by E Rocc
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