If Ben Roethlisberger had any jitters Monday night, the veteran quarterback shook them off in time for a vintage performance in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-16 victory against the New York Giants.
Playing for the first time in a year since a season-ending elbow injury sustained in Week 2 of 2019, Roethlisberger completed 21 of 32 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns — and an 11-yard keeper for a first down.
“There obviously were a little bit of jitters, I was excited and nervous to be out there,” Roethlisberger said after the game in East Rutherford, New Jersey. “I just wanted to not let my guys down, that was the biggest thing.”
Roethlisberger looked most like his old self in an abbreviated two-minute drill just before halftime, leading the Steelers on an eight-play, 78-yard drive capped with a touchdown throw to James Washington on which the third-year wide receiver muscled his way into the end zone for the score.nike nfl cheap jerseys
“Us being out there right before half, having two minutes to go down, put points on the board, it was like, ‘OK, that is the Ben we know,'” receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said. “Being able to go down and have those points on the board [on that] drive — that is what we do.”
Just before that drive, Roethlisberger stood on the sideline between drives with a jacket transformed into a wrap for his surgically repaired elbow to keep him loose and warm.
Roethlisberger said afterward he might feel some pain Tuesday following the game, but that said there was nothing seriously wrong with his knee, which he briefly grabbed after his 11-yard run in the second quarter, or his elbow.nfl nike jerseys cheap china
“I probably just grabbed my knee because I was moving so fast, but I feel great right now,” Roethlisberger said. “Obviously, adrenaline still pumping and we won the game. I’m going to be sore tomorrow and might have some bumps and bruises, but in terms of elbow and everything else I feel really good right now.”
With his third scoring pass of the night — and second to Smith-Schuster — Roethlisberger notched his 366th career touchdown, setting a franchise record and tying Eli Manning for eighth most in NFL history.
“I am just so excited, I am just thankful,” Roethlisberger told ESPN’s Maria Taylor in his postgame interview. “I told the guys in the locker room before the game that I’m back because of them. I don’t need to accomplish anything personally anymore. It’s about being with a defense that I think is as good as any I have ever played with, skill guys that are young and fun to play with and then, of course my line, who I love to death and they love me.
