Steelers football blog

Ward 's comments disturbing for Steelers

If Hines Ward's words sounded cutting in an interview aired before the game, he later explained they were merely spoken in frustration.

In a taped interview with Bob Costas aired beforehand on NBC's "Football Night in America," the Steelers' all-time leading receiver talked about the locker room being "like a 50-50 toss-up" over whether quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have played last night despite a concussion from seven days earlier. Ward talked about lying to team doctors on occasions when he suffered from concussion symptoms and how many NFL players overlook them, statements that league officials won't relish reading and hearing amid an increased effort to protect players from such life-altering injuries. And he talked in such a way that his predecessor as the player voted the league's dirtiest, NBC analyst Rodney Harrison, criticized Ward for questioning his team leader's toughness. Continue

Steelers lose in OT to Ravens

A valiant effort Sunday night in Baltimore won't count for anything in the standings.

And following a heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss to the Ravens in front of an announced crowd of 71,314, the reigning Super Bowl champions find themselves in a fight just to secure a wild-card berth.

The shorthanded Steelers gave their archrivals all they could handle, but their vaunted defense again failed to protect a fourth-quarter lead.

Dennis Dixon's 24-yard touchdown run with just over six minutes left in the game gave the Steelers a three-point lead at M&T Bank Stadium. But the Steelers allowed the Ravens to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and win it in overtime.

Rookie linebacker Paul Kruger intercepted a Dixon pass with just over 10 minutes left in overtime, and returned it to the Steelers' 28-yard line.

Four plays later, Billy Cundiff kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal. Continue

Big Ben out vs Ravens

In a stunning development, it appears Dennis Dixon and not Ben Roethlisberger will start at quarterback against the Baltimore Ravens tomorrow night after Roethlisberger experienced headaches recently after practicing this week.

Doctors will test him today before the Steelers board their flight to Baltimore at mid-afternoon and again tomorrow to determine how he feels and if he can play at all.

Although Roethlisberger said on Thursday that he felt fine, passed every test they'd given him and would start against the Ravens, he apparently began having second thoughts yesterday as he developed headaches following practices on Wednesday and Thursday. Roethlisberger left last Sunday's game in Kansas City with what were described as concussion-like symptoms after a blow to his head. Continue

Expect Ben to play

Ben Roethlisberger practiced again Thursday and said he plans to play Sunday against the Ravens.

Speaking for the first time since he got knocked out of the Steelers' 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs following a blow to the head, Roethlisberger said: "I've taken a thousand (neurological) tests and passed them all with flying colors."

Coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this week that Roethlisberger sustained a mild concussion after getting kneed in the helmet by Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson. Roethlisberger said he felt well enough following the hit that he would have lobbied to go back into the game had the Steelers gotten another possession in overtime.

He hasn't missed any practice and said it has been a normal week for him aside from the daily tests the Steelers have given him. Continue

Normal practice for Big Ben

A huddle of reporters around quarterback Dennis Dixon yesterday prompted a response across the Steelers' locker room from Ben Roethlisberger.

"Tell them how you really feel about taking my job, Double D," Roethlisberger said just loud enough.

It also was all Roethlisberger said publicly yesterday. He will wait until today to speak at length for the first time since he took that blow to the head in overtime of the Steelers' 27-24 loss in Kansas City. He answered more questions yesterday afternoon, though, when he lined up with the first-team offense and went through a regular practice.

So far, so good as Roethlisberger has passed all the tests with ease as he returns from the "mild concussion" he received in Kansas City. The biggest test of them all, though, awaits Sunday night in Baltimore. Continue

Big Ben expected to start vs Ravens

Ben Roethlisberger's concussion Sunday disappeared by Monday. Now, if only the Steelers could erase all the other body blows they have taken as readily.

Starting safety Troy Polamalu is not likely to play, and starting offensive guard Chris Kemoeatu and backup quarterback Charlie Batch will not in what may be a desperation matchup for a playoff spot in Baltimore Sunday night.

"Redemption Sunday, if you will, is coming for us in the form of the Baltimore Ravens on 'Sunday Night Football,' so we're excited about that," coach Mike Tomlin said yesterday. "That medicine is just what the doctor ordered when you look at where we are, having the opportunity to play our rivals on prime-time television."

The Ravens (5-5), may need a win more than the Steelers (6-4) to stay in reasonable shape in the playoff picture, but, when you face your third loss in a row after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals at home and at Kansas City, the stakes are just as high. Continue

Steelers lose to lowly Chiefs in OT

The lowly Kansas City Chiefs pulled a stunner today when they upset the Steelers in overtime 27-24, putting a serious dent in the Super Bowl champions' chances of repeating.

Moments after Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor dropped what would have been an interception at his 23 in overtime, Matt Cassel completed a medium-range pass to Chris Chambers, who skipped past a tackle by Ryan Clark to the four for a 61-yard gain.

Rookie kicker Ryan Succop then came on and kicked a 22-yard field goal for the victory with 8:28 left in the extra period.

The Chiefs, 10 point underdogs, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to tie it.

The Steelers' second consecutive loss dropped them to 6-4. The Chiefs are 3-7. Continue

Polamalu out vs KC

Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu and defensive end Travis Kirschke missed today's practice and will not play in Sunday's 1 p.m. game at Kansas City.

Polamalu (knee) and Kirschke (calf) missed practice all week. Normally, when a player misses Friday's practice, he isn't expected to play.

Polamalu was injured early in last Sunday's game against Cincinnati. Kirschke has missed the last two games. (Tribune)

Big Ben expects to bounce back

The timing of the Steelers' offense seemed to be off last Sunday in an 18-12 loss to the Bengals.

That could translate into the timing not being right for the Chiefs Sunday when the Steelers visit Kansas City for a 1 p.m. game.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will try to rebound from his worst performance of the season against the Chiefs.

"In the past, you didn't want to play him (following a bad game)," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "He's been outstanding bouncing back, and he takes it personal — like all of us."

That is not exactly good news for the Chiefs, who rank 24th in the NFL in passing defense and probably will see a different Roethlisberger than Cincinnati did. Continue

Special teams to pay the piper

At least one head rolled because of the inability of the Steelers' kickoff team to make a tackle in the past four games, and coach Mike Tomlin even fired a zinger at his own return specialist as he tries to correct a problem that may have cost them the AFC North Division title.

Tomlin called the three kickoff returns for touchdowns against his team in the past four games "head-scratchers," but it did not prevent him from lopping off the head of one special-teams player. Continue