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Ben Roethlisberger expected to start Sunday

By Charles Rahrig V

Oct 18, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) smiles while on the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) smiles while on the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to start on Sunday, against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, could very well determine the AFC North if the Bengals come out of the game with a win. After losing on the road this past week, the Steelers are almost in a must-win situation if they want to stay in their division race.

The good news for the Steelers, is that it sounds like they will finally have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back on the field and ready to go against the undefeated Bengals. Speaking to the team’s website, Mike Tomlin said that Roethlisberger is preparing to play this week.

"“Ben will be preparing this week and preparing to play,” Coach Mike Tomlin said at his weekly news conference. “We don’t have any reservations or limitations about his availability. We will keep an eye on him as he participates in practice this week to make sure there are no negative reactions to that practice participation. But as I sit here today, we’re comfortable with where he is and his availability for this week. We’re going to need him, obviously.”"

That’s certainly music to the Steelers’ ears. If they’re going to compete in their divison, let alone for a wild card spot, the team needs Roethlisberger on the field. They are just a vastly different team when he is out there, with his ability to put the ball in places the other quarterbacks on the roster can’t.

Mike Vick and Landry Jones did their best in his absence to pick up some wins and keep the season from getting away from them. Now, it’s up to Roethlisberger to engineer the rest of the season for Pittsburgh. As for his mobility against the Bengals, Tomlin said that he will probably be limited in that area during the game.

"At this juncture we’re not going to assume Ben will be limited from a mobility standpoint,” said Tomlin. “I’ll let Ben and the medical staff take care of that business, and I’ll just check in periodically with the medical staff as I always do over the course of a work week.”"

Roethlisberger is not going to be that same guy this week in terms of being able to run around and make that big throws on the run that he is capable of. That means he’s going to have to be an effective pocket passer, and if he’s going to be one, his offensive line in front of him is going to have to protect him.

This is the biggest game of the season for Pittsburgh and they’re going all in as they try to stay in the AFC North race. They’re going to try to give Cincinnati their best shot at home, and they will be led by their field general, Ben Roethlisberger.

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