Tag: Ben Roethlisberger

2021 NFL playoffs: How all 12 teams can win their wild-card games

With Super Wild-Card Weekend upcoming, Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield have detailed tape/stat breakdowns detailing how all 12 teams can win.

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Starting on Saturday, we have quite the wild-card round to kick off the NFL playoffs.

The NFL expanded the playoffs last season for the first time since 1990, adding a third Wild Card team in each conference and creating “Super Wild Card Weekend”with three Wild Card games on Saturday and three games on Sunday.

With the addition of a Monday night game to the 2021 season slate, Super Wild Card Weekend will now have two Wild Card games on Saturday (4:30 PM and 8:15 PM ET), three on Sunday (1:00 PM, 4:30 PM, and 8:15 PM ET), and one on Monday (8:15 PM ET).

On Saturday, the Las Vegas Raiders play at the Cincinnati Bengals (NBC, Peacock, Universo, 4:30 PM ET) and the New England Patriots visit the Buffalo Bills (CBS, Paramount+, 8:15 PM ET).

On Sunday as the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (FOX, FOX Deportes, 1:00 PM ET), the Dallas Cowboys welcome the San Francisco 49ers (CBS, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Amazon Prime Video, 4:30 PM ET) and the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs (NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, 8:15 PM ET).

Super Wild Card Weekend concludes with the Arizona Cardinals visiting the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night (ESPN/ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+ ESPN Deportes, 8:15 PM ET).

At Touchdown Wire, we’ve got you covered with all the matchups. Using tape analysis and advanced metrics, Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield have put together pieces on how each of these 12 teams can advance to the divisional round.

Wild-card playoff preview: What the Chiefs must do to beat the Steelers

The Kansas City Chiefs are heavy favorites this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers. What must they do to advance?

Like the other AFC wild-card games, the Sunday night affair between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs is a rematch of a game from earlier in the season. Back in Week 16, the Chiefs throttled the Steelers by a final score of 36-10. The loss continued extended a seven-game winning streak for Kansas City to eight, while putting a dent in Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes.

But, thanks to an overtime win on the final weekend of the season — and an overtime win by the Las Vegas Raiders in the final game of the season — the Steelers are in and the rematch is set.

In the buildup to this game, the bouquets are flowing back and forth. This week, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger commented that the Steelers were “probably 20 point underdogs,” while Chiefs head coach Andy Reid declared that Pittsburgh “was like a one seed.”

So who wins the final AFC game of the weekend? Here is what the Chiefs must do to beat the Steelers.

Wild-card playoff preview: What the Steelers must do to beat the Chiefs

The Pittsburgh Steelers face a huge task this weekend when they square off with the Kansas City Chiefs. How do they pull off the upset?

Like the other AFC wild-card games, the Sunday night affair between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs is a rematch of a game from earlier in the season. Back in Week 16, the Chiefs throttled the Steelers by a final score of 36-10. The loss continued extended a seven-game winning streak for Kansas City to eight, while putting a dent in Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes.

But, thanks to an overtime win on the final weekend of the season — and an overtime win by the Las Vegas Raiders in the final game of the season — the Steelers are in and the rematch is set.

In the buildup to this game, the bouquets are flowing back and forth. This week, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger commented that the Steelers were “probably 20 point underdogs,” while Chiefs head coach Andy Reid declared that Pittsburgh “was like a one seed.”

So who wins the final AFC game of the weekend? How can the Steelers pull off the upset? Here is what the Steelers must do to beat the Chiefs.

Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday’s playoff game vs. the Chiefs: “We don’t have a chance.”

“We probably aren’t supposed to be here. We’re probably not a very good football team,”

Ben Roethlisberger has been in the NFL for 18 years. His Wild Card showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs may be the final game of a Hall of Fame career. That, evidently, is the only game he’s interested in playing this week.

That could explain why, at the end of his Wednesday press conference before heading to Kansas City, he dropped a bit of brutal, candid honesty on reporters.

“[The Steelers] probably aren’t supposed to be here. We’re probably not a very good football team,” Roethlisberger told reporters assembled in Pittsburgh. “Of 14 teams that are in [the 2022 NFL Playoffs] we’re probably number 14. We’re double-digit underdogs in the playoffs, so let’s just play and have fun and see what happens.”

It was a refreshing display of awareness in a process typically reserved for vague platitudes and typical coach speak. Roethlisberger knows how this looks to the world. He’s fully aware Pittsburgh trailed 36-3 in Arrowhead Stadium when these two teams met in December. He understands the Steelers’ place in the postseason was the result of a stunning Jacksonville Jaguars win and kinda/sorta Brandon Staley’s ability to call a game-losing timeout.

And he’s embracing it! Pittsburgh is truly in a no-lose situation. The Steelers are not, in fact, supposed to be here. They ranked 23rd in total offense this season and 24th in total defense. Only two of their nine wins in 2021 came over playoff teams.

“We’re probably 20 point underdogs [actually 11.5, per Tipico] and we’re going to the #1 team, I know they’re not the #1 seed but they’ve won the AFC the last two years,” said the veteran quarterback as he wrapped up his press conference. “We don’t have a chance. So let’s just go in and have fun.”

It’s a bold move, but it makes sense. Why not treat Sunday’s game like the found money it is? After all, if Roethlisberger isn’t worried about losing if what’s likely to be the final game of his career, why should the rest of his team?

And hell, maybe this relaxed, “try your best” Steeler team can pull it off. I mean, probably not, because they’re just as bad as Roethlisberger pointed out, but if the Jaguars can beat the Colts, surely Pittsburgh can at least keep pace with the Chiefs. For a couple of drives, at least.

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Prince’s Props: Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Allen and more NFL Week 18 player prop bets

What does Big Ben have in store for his final game?

It’s been four weeks since my last set of prop picks, since COVID-19 began to run roughshod through the NFL. However, with the playoffs approaching and a few postseason spots still up for grabs entering the final week of the season, I’m back with a list of winners ready to help push their teams over the hump in Week 18 … or not. 

In Week 14, my last time picking, I just missed on a second straight 5-1 week thanks to an injury suffered by Lamar Jackson, who was removed against the Browns before hitting the over on his rushing line. The 4-2 mark was another solid effort, though, so here’s to hoping any figurative rust doesn’t ruin my run.

Week 14: 4-2 (Season: 14-10)

All odds are provided by Tipico.

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QB Davis Mills hopes he can be the Texans’ version of Ben Roethlisberger

Quarterback Davis Mills hopes he can have the same success, long career for the Houston Texans as Ben Roethlisberger did for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Despite the Houston Texans’ 4-12 record and rookie Davis Mills‘ 2-8 record as a starting quarterback, the third-rounder from Stanford has generated some encouraging statistics in the lost season of 2021.

Mills has a 66.48% completion percentage, which is the fourth-best in the NFL among rookie quarterbacks since 1970. Only Dak Prescott (67.76%), Mac Jones (67.72%), and Justin Herbert (66.55%) have higher completion percentages on a minimum of 100 attempts.

Having such a place among other productive quarterbacks galvanizes Mills.

“It’s pretty cool,” Mills said. “Obviously, with the guys who have been in the league for a long time and been successful, it’s cool just to be in that same discussion as them.”

One player that Mills is ahead of with a game to go is Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who compiled a 66.44% completion percentage in 2004 as he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 15-1 record, which is thought to be one of the best seasons by a rookie quarterback in the modern era.

“Hopefully, my career will turn out, say like Ben Roethlisberger who just played his last home game in Pittsburgh this last weekend,” said Mills. “That’d be awesome if I could turn my career into something like that.”

Roethlisberger started his 246th career game for the Steelers in a 26-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football at Heinz Field, the two-time Super Bowl champion’s final home.

As Mills gets ready for his 11th career start and last home game of the season, his focus is on constant improvement.

Said Mills: “Right now it’s just go out there and attack each week, and obviously make smart decisions with the football, because that’s where completion percentage comes from. Ultimately, just go out there and do my job, move the ball down the field and get our team in the end zone.”

The Texans finish up the regular season with a Week 18 encounter with the Tennessee Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.

Russell Wilson congratulates Ben Roethlisberger after his final home game

Afterwards, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson shared a message of congratulations on Twitter.

Tom Brady’s career will outlive our civilization at this rate, but every other quarterback from his generation is gone or about to be. Last night, Ben Roethlisberger played what will be his final home game for the Steelers.

Afterwards, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson shared a message of congratulations on Twitter.

In a predictable development, Wilson’s mentions are flooded with fans of  teams who are hoping he’ll jump ship this offseason.

The rumor mill got going early this year in regards to Wilson’s future, but there are several important factors working against the likelihood that he’ll change teams. First, Wilson denies he requested a trade to begin with last year. Second, Wilson has a no-trade clause, so he ultimately controls where he’ll play. Third, there are very few NFL teams that offer Wilson a better opportunity to continue competing at a high level and none that can help his legacy more.

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Steelers fans, players pay tribute to Ben Roethlisberger in possibly his final home game

Big Ben’s last ride in Pittsburgh.

Monday is set to be Ben Roethlisberger’s last home game in Pittsburgh. Possibly. More than likely, in fact, if the reactions of Steelers fans and players are any indication.

Roethlisberger’s NFL career has spanned 18 seasons since stepping out to play quarterback for Pittsburgh all the way back in 2004. At age 39, Monday’s game against the Cleveland Browns will very likely be his last in front of Pittsburgh fans as his one-year contract will expire at the end of the season.

It’s a bittersweet time for Pittsburgh fans, as Roethlisberger brought two Super Bowls (2006, 2009) to the city after over 245 games played with the franchise. Roethlisberger is a six-time Pro Bowler, a two-time winner of the league’s passing yards title, and has tossed 416 touchdowns headed into Monday’s game.

On the flip side, however, Roethlisberger’s arm strength has clearly given out on him over the years, with this season culminating in a 7-7-1 record with the playoffs all but out of reach. It’s been tough watching Roethlisberger decline in this way, but Monday will give him the chance to say goodbye to the Pittsburgh faithful one last time.

Here are all the best reactions from Steelers players and fans to Roethlisberger’s final home game in Pittsburgh.

Monday Night Football: Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers live stream, TV channel

The Cleveland Browns will meet the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football in what might be Big Ben’s last game at Heinz Field.

The Cleveland Browns will meet the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football in what might be Big Ben’s last game at Heinz Field.

The Browns will look to bounce back after a 24-22 loss to the Packers last week while Baker Mayfield and company will look to knock the Steelers out of playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Steelers haven’t lost at home since September, and with the possibility that this is Ben Roethlisberger’s last home game, they will be ready.

This will be a great game, here is everything you need to know to stream the action on Monday night.

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

  • When: Monday, January 3
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

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NFL Football Odds and Betting Lines

NFL odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds last updated Monday at 6:05 p.m. ET.

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5)

O/U: 43.5

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