Nine sacks. Time and again, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was wrangled to ground by Baltimore Ravens? defenders in a 27-0 loss on Nov. 26 at M&T Bank Stadium.
No sack on the third-year quarterback was more brutal or more replayed than the one by Bart Scott in the second quarter. The Ravens? linebacker came around Roethlisberger?s right side untouched and unloaded on the unsuspecting quarterback. Roethlisberger?s body snapped as he fell to the ground with a thud, his head jerking upward after hitting the ground.
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Roethlisberger, who called it the hardest hit he had ever taken, briefly left the game. When he returned, he was not the same man, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but on that field.
“[The Ravens] throw so many different things that [Pittsburgh?s offensive line] had to try and pick up, and it was a tough week for all of us because of the things they do ? not just for me, but for the linemen and everyone else,” Roethlisberger said after the game. “So a lot of those sacks were probably my fault. You know, not throwing it hot or something.”
Four weeks later, the 24-year-old Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, will see the rush again when his team hosts the Ravens (11-3) Sunday.
“If I were Ben, I would think about it,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said this week.
Then, in the next breath, Lewis added he didn?t think Roethlisberger would dwell on it too long. There?s no time to double-clutch in the NFL.
Lewis and the Ravens do not expect to see a psychologically timid man still suffering from flashbacks Sunday.
“I actually expect him to play a lot more inspired,” said defensive end Trevor Pryce, who had two sacks in the first meeting.
Prior to that loss, Roethlisberger was making lots of mistakes as he took on extra pressure to carry the team. He entered the Nov. 26 game with twointerceptions and added two more that day. Since the loss, the team is throwing less ? Roethlisberger has thrown only one interception ? and relying more on running back Willie Parker. Not coincidentally, the Steelers have won three straight games to improve to 7-7.
“They?ve really gotten back to Steeler football, and that?s just running the football,” Lewis said. “I think last week, they had 40 carries ? something l like ? and Ben threw the ball 17 times. He?s really getting rid of the ball very quickly. So I don?t think they are going to sit back there and hold the ball long.”
Roethlisberger?s resiliency in the last game, albeit futile, impressed the Ravens. Some expect an aggressive approach by the quarterback this time around.
“One thing about the NFL is that we?re all competitive,” said Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, who also had two sacks in the last matchup. “We all like to be challenged. I don?t think he?s going to be gun-shy. I think he?s actually going to be looking forward to it and bringing it.”
Ravens (11-3) at Steelers (7-7)
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
When: 1 p.m., Sunday
TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM/1090 AM
