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Ben Roethlisberger turns into the Man of Steel

ADRIAN BRIJBASSI
NFLPosts.com Editor

It’s not often a quarterback who’s won two Super Bowls finds his name second in the promotional marquee. When the guy at the helm of the other team holds or is close to holding just about every meaningful passing record in the NFL, then you fold your arms across your chest and cede the spotlight.

So as the Steelers prepare to host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger will watch, hear and be unable to avoid the hype surrounding Brett Favre and his greatness at 40. Big Ben, though, deserves plenty of pub for what he’s done this year too. His victories haven’t been as dramatic as Favre’s and his storyline isn’t as compelling, but the fact he has transformed himself is worthy of a few headlines. In previous years Roethlisberger came across as a game manager with an uncanny knack for making the big play when it counted. Suddenly, the 27-year-old has turned into a force. The league leader in passing yards and a fantasy football geek’s mid-round steal.

Maybe that’s what happens when you gain the confidence brought by two championships in five years or it’s a natural progression or it’s what reality dictates when your team’s running game isn’t what it used to be.

“He’s in total command of the offense,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “It’s fun to watch.”

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has turned Roethlisberger loose and he’s responded with what’s certain to be his finest statistical season. In six games, he’s thrown for 1,887 yards and 10 touchdowns. His play has rejuvenated Hines Ward, taken the heat off the Steelers’ running backs and even earned enough respect to shut most people up about the hotel-room rape allegations he faced prior to the season. More importantly, the Steelers (4-2) have won three straight and are back atop the AFC North, tied with Cincinnati.

As the undefeated Vikings (6-0) and the Favre-enamored media machine enter Heinz Field for the biggest game of Week 7, Roethlisberger hopes to continue shedding his previous reputation as a quarterback whose success is predicated on his team’s stout offensive line and stellar defense.

“This is the best I’ve seen him play,” tight end Heath Miller said after Roethlisberger put up 417 yards in the 27-14 win over Cleveland. “I’ve seen him play pretty darn good sometimes. I just think that the more you do something, the more comfortable you are with it and Ben has full command of this offense. … He just keeps getting better and better.”

NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE TAKES SHAPE

The 2009 season isn’t even halfway through and it appears 10 of the 12 playoff teams are already determined.

In the AFC, New England (4-2), Pittsburgh (4-2), Indianapolis (5-0) and Denver (5-0 heading into Monday night) are the class of their respective divisions. Although Cincinnati (4-2) is ahead of Baltimore in the conference standings, the Ravens (3-3) are still the better team and should eventually take control of the first of the two wild-card spots. That would leave the Bengals and a slew of teams fighting for the final spot. While Cincinnati’s been a curious story, its loss to Houston exposed the Bengals as a team that just doesn’t have the mentality to win when it counts. As the season progresses, they figure to devolve to mediocrity.

In the NFC, the New York Giants (5-1), New Orleans (5-0), Minnesota (6-0) and whoever wins the West (both San Francisco and Arizona are 3-2) are in the postseason barring major collapses. Atlanta’s win over Chicago on Sunday could turn out to be huge come December when the wild-card race takes shape. The Falcons (4-1) should get in, leaving the final spot to one of the teams currently at 3-2: the Bears, Eagles, Cowboys, Packers and whoever finishes second in the West (Arizona looks like it’s making a push to claim that division).

FOUR AND OUT

Proof of disorder in the universe: CNN is shocked to learn that the case of the missing Colorado boy lost in a homemade flying contraption was a hoax. Maybe journalists should raise red flags whenever they find themselves enthralled with a story that has anything to do with someone who is or is related to a reality TV participant. The Balloon Boy story should be retold as The Boy Who Cried Wolf Blitzer.

You know you’re an evil Republican if…: You evoke a children’s tale to make a convoluted comparison between an elected official you disagree with and an evil literary character. Conservative Republicans sent bags of rock salt last week to the office of Maine senator Olympia Snowe, the only member of the GOP to side with the Democrats’ health-care plan. One organizer said, “Olympia Snowe has sold out the country. Having been banished to our world after Aslan chased her out of Narnia, Snowe is intent on corrupting this place too. So we should melt her.”

I suppose if you think about that reasoning long enough it will make sense.

iPhone app you’ll never live without: The Ochocinco Experience ($4.99). As unearthed by NFLPosts.com earlier in the week, the app follows the NFL’s most interesting human as the Bengals’ receiver lets you in on all things 85.

Coolest song of the week: 100,000 Tons of Steel by the Grateful Dead (last week: The Saints are Coming by U2 and Green Day).

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