The Pittsburgh Steelers are happy to have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back in the lineup, and he showed why on Sunday afternoon against the Cincinnati Bengals.
After missing the previous five weeks with a sprained MCL, Roethlisberger returned and hit wide receiver Antonio Brown for a 1-yard touchdown. For Brown, it was his seventh touchdown of the season.
Antonio Brown touchdown?
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2015
Yep, Ben's back. #CINvsPIT https://t.co/cL2UfGSovt
Roethlisberger has also gone over the 40,000-yard passing mark for his career, becoming only the 16th player in NFL history to accomplish that feat. Roethlisberger is returning to a team that is 4-3 and on the brionk of falling out of the AFC North race. Cincinnati is 6-0 but visiting a hostile Heinz Field, where Pittsburgh is hoping to close within a game and a half.
The Bengals have been dominant in ways we are not used to seeing out of a Marvin Lewis/Andy Dalton-led team. However, they have always struggled to beat the Steelers in big spots. Last year, the two teams played for the division title on Sunday Night Football in Week 17, and Pittsburgh was able to roll to the victory.
This matchup is the first of two between the two teams this season. Cincinnati could really put the North on ice with a road victory, but will have to overcome a healthy, dangerous Pittsburgh team.