stillers4me
01-24-2011, 06:32 PM
Ben Roethlisberger (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/ben-roethlisberger/200315) had survived a four-game NFL suspension, the ruination of his off-field reputation, the loss of his best offensive linemen and vicious hits that would have sidelined frailer quarterbacks.
So in comparison, making the clutch throw that would guarantee his Pittsburgh Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/pittsburgh-steelers/67067) a trip to Super Bowl XLV was child’s play – in more ways than one.
The completion that clinched Sunday night’s victory over the New York Jets (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/new-york-jets/67057) had the kind of schoolyard feel that was a Roethlisberger trademark long before his life turned upside down in 2010. Facing a third-and-6 with two minutes remaining, Roethlisberger expected the Jets to bring a heavy blitz and was planning to target wide receiver Hines Ward (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/hines-ward/70572). The Jets expected a quarterback draw and sent a lighter pass rush against a five-receiver set. Both sides then were forced to improvise.
Roethlisberger scrambled to his right away from pressure as the pocket collapsed. Throwing to Ward was out of the question because the pass window was too tight. That left Roethlisberger trying to choose whether he should run or throw with Jets defenders quickly converging. The decision would determine if the Steelers could run out the clock or if the Jets would have a final chance to complete what would have been the largest championship game comeback in NFL history.
Roethlisberger made the call that guaranteed his own personal and professional comeback wouldn’t get derailed.............
read more @ http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/pittsburgh-steelers-quarterback-ben-roethlisberger-handles-pressure-012311
So in comparison, making the clutch throw that would guarantee his Pittsburgh Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/pittsburgh-steelers/67067) a trip to Super Bowl XLV was child’s play – in more ways than one.
The completion that clinched Sunday night’s victory over the New York Jets (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/new-york-jets/67057) had the kind of schoolyard feel that was a Roethlisberger trademark long before his life turned upside down in 2010. Facing a third-and-6 with two minutes remaining, Roethlisberger expected the Jets to bring a heavy blitz and was planning to target wide receiver Hines Ward (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/hines-ward/70572). The Jets expected a quarterback draw and sent a lighter pass rush against a five-receiver set. Both sides then were forced to improvise.
Roethlisberger scrambled to his right away from pressure as the pocket collapsed. Throwing to Ward was out of the question because the pass window was too tight. That left Roethlisberger trying to choose whether he should run or throw with Jets defenders quickly converging. The decision would determine if the Steelers could run out the clock or if the Jets would have a final chance to complete what would have been the largest championship game comeback in NFL history.
Roethlisberger made the call that guaranteed his own personal and professional comeback wouldn’t get derailed.............
read more @ http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/pittsburgh-steelers-quarterback-ben-roethlisberger-handles-pressure-012311