Quarterback Roethlisberger makes his season debut against the Browns, after serving a four-game supsension for violating NFL code of conduct.
Ben Roethlisberger will start at quarterback for the Steelers against the Browns.Cleveland, Ohio -- The Pittsburgh Steelers got by with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serving a four-game suspension for violating NFL conduct policy.
They might do better than that with him back. Roethlisberger, who has led Pittsburgh to two Super Bowl championships, will play for the first time this season on Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Browns.
Gary Mihoces writes about Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense for USAToday.com:
Though the Steelers went 3-1 without him, they rank last in the NFL in passing after playing with Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon at quarterback.
The statistics amassed so far by Steelers receivers reflect that bottom-ranked status.
A quarter of the way through the season, wide receiver Hines Ward leads the team with 12 catches for 165 yards. Multiply those 12 catches by four and it projects to 48 in a season. Last season, Ward had 95 grabs for 1,167 yards and six TDs.
Tight end Heath Miller has 10 catches for 100 yards and no touchdowns. That would project to 40 catches in a season. Last season, Miller had 76 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns.
Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh
Seldom during the Browns-Steelers rivalfy have both teams been good at the same time. That's proven by how the Browns won 32 of the first 41 games between the teams, and the Steelers have 51 of the last 75, including two playoff game wins for the Steelers.
John Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes about the rivalry, quoting Browns players including placekicker Phil Dawson:
Despite being on the losing end so many times, Dawson said Steelers-Browns week has always held special meaning for him.
"That's one of those things that makes this week fun," Dawson said. "We all have great jobs in this locker room. It's a blessing to be in this league. But a lot of us long for that feeling you had emotionally in college. When you have that rivalry, the tradition of two programs going against one another.
"As a guy that's been in this league a long time, it's fun to have that twice a year because some of those other games, you kind of feel like you're going to work. This feels like playing that game in the front yard you grew up playing, when you told your friend, 'run around the mailbox and I'll throw it to you.'"
Steeltown stories
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is trying to figure out what to do with a couple rookie kick returners/receivers, writes Gerry Dulac for the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette.
A matchup to watch in the Browns-Steelers game, by Mike Wilkening of ProFootballWeekly.com.
Steelers-Browns notes by John Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Defenses and the Steelers' offensive line will have to adjust to Roethlisberger's return to action, writes Len Pasquarelli for Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com.
About Ben Roethlisberger getting back on the field, by Dennis Dillon of SportingNews.com.