It was another week, another record-breaking performance for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is currently at the top of his game during a historic homestand that saw him lead his team the three straight victories and score 124 points.
Last week, against the Indianapolis Colts, the 11th-year veteran became the first player in NFL history to throw for over 500 yards in multiple games in his career when he threw for 522 yards and six touchdowns.
He ‘only’ had 340 yards through the air last night against the Baltimore Ravens, but he incredibly matched his scoring output with another six touchdowns. The two consecutive games of six touchdown passes, and 12 touchdowns in a two-game span, are both firsts in the history of the league.
Through the first seven weeks of the season, Roethlisberger had only thrown 10 touchdown passes, but he’s brought his season total up to 22 in just two games, and is on pace to have the best season of his career, statistically.
He currently ranks second in the league with 2720 passing yards, though the Steelers have yet to have their bye week. Still, he also ranks fourth in the league with 302.2 yards per game. He is one of four players averaging over 300 yards passing per game.
His 22 touchdowns—tied for second-most in the league—in nine games also puts him on pace to throw for 39 touchdowns this year, which would shatter his own team record of 32 touchdowns passes set in 2007.
Perhaps most impressive, he is only on pace to throw about five interceptions, having thrown just three in 338 pass attempts this year. His interception rate is at a career-best .89 percent of passes thrown, averaging an interception once every 113 throws.
On the other hand, his touchdown rate is at a career-best 6.5, throwing a touchdown once every 15 passes. His 110.6 passer rating is the best of his career by 6.5 points, and currently ranks him third behind only Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning.
The Steelers quarterback is simply having a phenomenal season, to the point at which his name should be entered into the discussion for the end of season Most Valuable Player award. His most recent performances have vaulted Pittsburgh into a top 10 offense, as they now rank seventh in the league averaging 27.6 points per game.
On a night in which the organization took time out to honor its finest in retiring the number 75 jersey worn by “Mean” Joe Greene, who epitomized everything it once meant to play Steelers football, it was Roethlisberger who stole the show, signaling the now obvious fact that Pittsburgh’s success now lives and dies with him and how far he can take this young offense.
