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Win Sunday would be one of Big Ben’s best

Ben Roethlisberger, his right throwing shoulder ailing, was the last Steeler player to leave the field at Paul Brown Stadium after Saturday’s improbable 18-16 win over the hated Bengals.

Coach Mike Tomlin recoiled on his way to the locker room and grabbed his star quarterback, who was conducting one of many postgame interviews with the media.

It was a game where he continued to add to what is an underappreciated legacy (at least nationally) by marching his team down the field, barley able to throw, let alone with any distance or velocity. Aided by the Bengals stupidity, he got them in position to where rookie kicker Chris Boswell essentially ended the game with his 35-yard field goal.

That was remarkable. What might even be more remarkable is if he can help lead them to a win at Denver on Sunday in the divisional round.

First, take a look at what the Steelers offense has become.

With wide receiver Antonio Brown (concussion) and DeAngelo Williams (foot) officially ruled out, the Steelers will become the first team in NFL history to play in a playoff game without their leading receiver and rusher from the regular season.

Now, take into consideration Roethlisberger’s own injury, along with the fact that they will be playing the No. 1 ranked defense in the league on the road, and the Steelers have what appears to be the longest of long shots to extend their season at least another week.

Let’s keep in mind who we’re talking about, however.

Roethlisberger, after getting his foot smashed a week earlier, came on in relief against the Browns this season and threw for nearly 400 yards.

It’s also the same guy that broke his nose against the Ravens several years ago and didn’t miss a snap.

Does he have a little bit of prima donna in him? Sure. But in the age of the ‘golden boy’ elite quarterbacks, he is a throwback.

All that being said, the Steelers go into this game as a 7 1/2 point underdog.

The last time they were that big of an underdog in the divisional round was 2005, Roethlisberger’s second year in the league. The opponent was the Indianapolis Colts and the quarterback was the same one they will be opposing this week Peyton Manning.

That is the game Roethlisberger was best known for making a game-saving tackle on Nick Harper, who had recovered a Jerome Bettis fumble with the Steelers’ on the brink of victory, looking as if he would steal the game for the Colts.

He didn’t, thanks to Roethlisberger, the Steelers won, and the rest was history, as they went on to win Super Bowl XL over Seattle.

While Manning’s arm strength isn’t nearly what it was 11 years ago, the book on beating him is still the same. Pressure him and make him feel uncomfortable in the pocket.

Sticking strictly to the quarterbacks, Manning is 2-5 when his team is the No. 1 seed in the divisional round. Roethlisberger has never lost in the divisional round. There’s also the fact that Roethlisberger is 4-1 on the road in his playoff career, while Manning has never one a playoff game with the temperature under 40 degrees.

Sunday’s temperature at kickoff according to The Weather Channel? 30 degrees.

Now, all these numbers could be meaningless, and the game is obviously much more than just Roethlisberger vs. Manning.

But this is generally an area, as underdog, where Roethlisberger has thrived. And Manning, as the favorite, hasn’t been great in his career.

If the Steelers are somehow able to come out of Mile High with a win, Roethlisberger will be a huge reason why. And, other than his two Super Bowl wins, it would be perhaps the most impressive of his career.

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