Ben Roethlisberger Beats Stomach Virus and Bengals

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Ben Roethlisberger missed pregame warm-ups Sunday because of what the Steelers called “a minor stomach virus.”€ By the time the virtual AFC North championship game ended, it was the Bengals who were left feeling sick.

Roethlisberger capped the finest statistical season for a passer in Steelers history by throwing for 317 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-17 win that clinched the franchise its first division title in four years.

It was far from Roethlisberger’s finest performance. He completed 24 of 38 passes but was noticeably off target on a handful of throws, particularly in the first half. But as coach Mike Tomlin is wont to say, it was a winning performance, the fourth in a row for the Steelers (11-5) and their franchise quarterback.

Roethlisberger spread around the ball — he completed passes to seven receivers during the first half — and he varied the attack from deep balls to wide receiver screens to throws to Heath Miller in the middle of the field.

A second-quarter touchdown pass to rookie Martavis Bryant was mostly a strong individual effort by the 6-foot-4 receiver much like Roethlisberger’s two long first-half completions, which were catches-and-runs on short flicks to running back Le’Veon Bell.

All 16 of Roethlisbeger’s first-half completions were considered “short” in the official league stats, meaning they were completed fewer than 15 yards downfield. He missed on his first five intermediate or long-range attempts.

Roethlisberger also threw his first interception this month (in Cincinnati territory late in the third quarter) and was charged with a lost fumble when he wasn’t ready for a shotgun snap from Maurkice Pouncey on a third-and-3 during the final minute of the third quarter.

But continuing a trend that he’s enjoyed throughout most of the Steelers’ late-season surge, Roethlisberger was protected well and had an abundance of time to throw, benefiting from another strong game from tackles Marcus Gilbert and Kelvin Beachum.

The Bengals entered Sunday ranked last in the NFL in sacks with 20 in 15 games, and it showed.

Several times Roethlisberger stood in the pocket and went through his progressions with limited disruption.

Roethlisberger entered Sunday’s regular-season finale already the franchise single-season record-holder in passing yards, completions and completion percentage and with single-game records for passing yards and completions (set Oct. 26 against Indianapolis).

Be it the stomach ailment or just the proverbial off night, Roethlisberger wasn’t nearly that impressive Sunday. But he didn’t have to be.