PITTSBURGH — Most NFL quarterbacks are taught proper footwork and throwing techniques. They are given checks at the line of scrimmage, progression reads and safety valves.
Ben Roethlisberger performs like everything he ever learned was in his backyard in Findlay, Ohio.
If Big Ben is not at his best when the plays are drawn up in the dirt, it’s at least when he has the most fun. Roethlisberger was king of the sandlot known as Heinz Field on a wintry Sunday night while leading the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Baltimore Ravens 23-14 in the AFC championship game.
For the second time in four seasons, Roethlisberger will play for the world championship. His Steelers will play the Arizona Cardinals, who are coached by his former offensive coordinator, Ken Whisenhunt, in Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla.
Against the Ravens, Roethlisberger was good and would have been great if not for drops by Limas Sweed and Willie Parker on beautifully thrown, potential touchdown passes.
The game’s biggest play came on third-and-9 from the Steelers 35. As Broncos fans may remember, if it’s third-and-long and it’s the AFC championship game, Roethlisberger is tough to stop. In the 2005 AFC title game at Invesco Field at Mile High, Roethlisberger converted eight of his first nine third downs to help upset the Broncos 34-17.
Against the Ravens, Roethlisberger converted third downs of at least 10 yards on his first two possessions that led to Jeff Reed field goals. Then came the Roethlisberger scramble on a scoring play in the second quarter.
With the Ravens blitzing, Roethlisberger scrambled left. He stepped and floated a pass purposely behind Santonio Holmes, who had defender Fabian Washington spinning as the receiver broke off his pattern to rescue his quarterback. Holmes caught the ball as Washington fell, cut across the field, cut again, and finished the 65-yard catch-and-run TD that gave Pittsburgh an insurmountable 13-0 lead.
Roethlisberger is not the league’s most accomplished passer. His 17 touchdowns against 15 interceptions during the regular season were hardly Pro Bowl- worthy. And there are times when his freelancing style is a deterrent.
His constant quest to stay alive and seek the big play is one reason he was sacked an alarming 46 times this season, or 35 more than the Broncos’ Jay Cutler. Only New England’s Matt Cassel was sacked more with 47, but Cassel also attempted 46 more passes than Roethlisberger.
But put a tenacious Dick Le-Beau-coached defense on his side and good luck finding a quarterback better suited to help his team win.
He converted all those key third downs in beating the Broncos back in 2005, and two third-and-10 or longer completions set up the first two field goals against the Ravens.
For the third time in his five NFL seasons, Roethlisberger has started in the conference title game. His 52 wins are the most ever for a five-year quarterback. He has already became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl in 2006, when he was 23.
Roethlisberger was 16-of-33 for 255 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions against a Ravens defense that forced eight turnovers in winning its first two playoff games on the road, against Miami and Tennessee.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
