Ben Roethlisberger Leads Steelers Over Bengals Despite Stomach Bug

Ben Roethlisberger might have been fed up with the direction of the Pittsburgh Steelers at one point, but the Pro Bowl quarterback has them back in the playoffs as the AFC North champs thanks to a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night. Even more impressive than that win for Ben Roethlisberger is that the QB did it despite being down and out with a stomach virus before the game.

It is even safe to say that at one point this season, Ben Roethlisberger might have been right to question the direction of the franchise, considering they started the year with a record of just 3-3. That record included a 31-10 loss to the usually pitiful Cleveland Browns (who, in Ben Roethlisberger’s defense, were not all that pitiful this season) Since that 3-3 start, Ben Roethlisberger has managed to will his team to an 8-2 run that has included two wins against the second best team in the Steelers’ division.

Sunday night’s 27-17 victory is the second time Ben Roethlisberger and company have managed to manhandle Andy Dalton and the Bengals. This time, the Steelers did the deed without the benefit of having running back Leveon Bell available for the entire game. Bell left early on with an apparent knee injury. That bit of news could be more troublesome once the playoffs start, but for now, Ben Roethlisberger was able to overcome that loss and still lead his team to the AFC North title.

When looking at Ben Roethlisberger’s numbers, it’s not really a surprise that the Steelers suddenly look like a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl. The long time leader of this franchise just finished the regular season with a whopping 32 touchdown passes to just 9 interceptions. Thanks to his 317 yards against the Bengals, the 11 year veteran finished the year just 48 yards shy of 5,000 through the air.

It’s no wonder that even if he has to play with a stomach bug, he’s been getting the job done this season. It’s also not a wonder why there has been very real talk about the star quarterback getting the MVP trophy. He’ll certainly be facing off against stiff competition, considering he’s going up against quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Still, leading his team to an 11-5 record and doing it while putting up such impressive numbers is going to get him some mention for that award. It seems likely that Ben Roethlisberger would rather get even more mention as the Super Bowl MVP when that time comes.