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Writer's pictureSteven Poss

Big Ben’s Most Memorable Game Each Year: Pt 4 (’13-’15)

Ben Roethlisberger has played in 18 seasons for the Steelers for what should transform into a Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2027. Here’s a look back at Big Ben’s most memorable games each year from 2013 through 2015.

2013: Steelers 37, Lions 27 (Week 11)

After a 0-4 start in 2013, Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to be back in the conversation. Pittsburgh was 3-6 and hosted the 6-3 Lions. The Steelers were even 3-point underdogs going into the game. Big Ben started off in the first quarter by throwing two touchdowns to Antonio Brown to take a 14-0 lead. The Lions rallied back and went up 27-20.

Pittsburgh’s deficit could’ve been even greater if it weren’t for a goal-line stand, late in the second half. The Steeler’s defense held the Lions scoreless the rest of the way while Roethlisberger threw two more touchdowns.

2014: Steelers 43, Ravens 23 (Week 9)

After Ben Roethlisberger was coming off of a historic game against the Colts, he was about to have a repeat. Big Ben had a game where he threw for six touchdowns in a home win over the Colts. He did the same thing against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. Instead of the Steelers starting the game hot, they punted on their first four drives. Roethlisberger threw three touchdowns in the next quarter to have a 22-10 lead.

After a scoreless 3rd quarter, Big Ben threw three more touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh sealed the victory and then scored some more. Roethlisberger spread the ball out as five different Steelers caught a touchdown pass. Le’Veon Bell, Markus Wheaton, Antonio Brown, and Mat Spaeth caught a touchdown pass while Martavius Bryant caught two. Big Ben and the Steelers would have different luck when they hosted the Ravens in the Wildcard Round. The Steelers didn’t have the same offensive firepower as they did in Week 9 and were defeated 30-17.

2015: Steelers 18, Bengals 16 (AFC Wildcard Round)

Pittsburgh clinched the 6-seed in the playoffs and met up in Cincinnati against the Bengals. The Steelers were focused on surviving and advancing to earn a trip to Denver for the Divisional round. Both the Steelers and Bengals started off very flat offensively. It wasn’t until late in the second quarter for either team to score. The Steelers scored a pair of field goals with under three minutes to go in the first half. In the third quarter, Big Ben threw a pass that Martavis Bryant made an incredible touchdown reception on. The Steelers were up 15-0 and the Bengals seemed to have no momentum in sight.

Then, Big Ben was sacked by Vontaze Burfict and suffered an injury to take him out of the game. The Steelers went to Landry Jones at quarterback, while the Bengals were already in the same situation by starting A.J. McCarron for the entire game. The Bengals soon scored 16 unanswered points and put the Steelers down and in a game-winning opportunity. Landry Jones threw an interception on the first play of the drive and the Bengals then had control of the game.

On the Bengal’s first play to ice the game, Ryan Shazier came in and forced a fumble to give the Steelers the ball back, and Big Ben was back in the game. He led a drive down the field but not quite into Bengals territory. On 4th & 3 at the Steelers 41-yard line, Big Ben completed a pass to Antonio Brown for 12 yards. On the next play with 20 seconds to go, Roethlisberger threw an incompletion but penalties were to come. Vontaze Burfict made a massive hit on Antonio Brown and was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

Pittsburgh would’ve attempted a 50-yard field goal, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Adam Jones cut the field goal distance to 35-yards. Chris Boswell drilled the game-winning kick and the Steelers won 18-16. Pittsburgh lost in the Divisional Round to the Broncos 23-16.

From 2013-2015, Big Ben had a 26-17 overall record, 81-39 TD-INT ratio, 298.9 yards per game, and a 96.8 passer rating.

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