O.K. - My discussion question after this win...

How urgent will the Steelers be to bring Ben back for the Chargers game next week? Batch showed that the game vs. the Clowns was a fluke. Do the Steelers keep Ben limited in practice this week and not hurry him back or do they work him hard to get him back in there against the Chargers?

 

They bring him back when he no longer has pain throwing the ball, but not until then. I'd rather a healthy Batch over a Ben who can't throw the ball without wincing.

 

Ben starts when the doctors clear him.

 

I know that when the doctors clear him, he starts. I'm just thinking that now that the Steelers have beaten Baltimore - it's not going to be as big an issue this week. All week last week, we were getting regular updates and the media was wringing their hands over whether Ben might be ready for the Ratbirds. Now, I don't think it's going to be as urgent.

 

Exactly! Too much time out for Ben is not good

 

I thought Tomlin said Ben was cleared to play but it would depend on how much pain he could stand and how well he could throw the ball.

 

i think had we started charlie the first game ben was out we woud have won 2 of the 3 rather than lost 2 out fo the 3.. that was a terrible mistake by tomlin to start leftwich and you can see i have said that for the entire 3 weeks..

HINES

 

To those thinking this win makes all our playoff worries gone, you are sadly mistaken. Cibcy is not going to go away easily. We could easily fall behind them with a loss.

 

Rob, you`re right. I still want to see us win out to get our wildcard seed... But , this does give us breathing room, to let one slip away.
Just hopefully, not the one against Cincy...
Way to go, on a game where NO ONE gave us a snowball`s chance in hell...
(Myself included)...
GO STEELERS!!!

 

I tihnk the media will be talking about it no matter what.

Still yet to watch the game in full, but in the first half the MB discussion here seemed to be calling out for Hoyer to start fairly loudly - presuming Batch turned it around completely in the second half?

 

Charlie started out pretty shakey and missed a wide open Mike Wallace in the endzone for an easy TD but he settled down and made some good throws towards the end of the game. Even threw the key block for our last TD run.

 

Wow. Couldn't disagree with you more. We let one slip away, we're done. You do realize Cincy has the same record as us - right?

 

You have to keep playing Charlie, until Ben isn't going to have pain throwing the ball. I'd rather of Batch than Big Ben with pain. I'm not so sure we see Ben this week, my orginal guess was the Cowboys game. I'm staying with that prediction.

 

Right - but I'm thinking that a loss to the Ratbirds may have caused the Steelers to hurry him back. I'm thinking that they give Ben another week to heal and let Batch beat the Chargers. Maybe Ben is active in a backup/emergency role next week?

 

The guys doing the broadcast seem to think (and say out loud) that Ben will be back next week.

 

yeah there is a report Ben should have played last night. I have a feeling Ben is going to play next week...

 

Fortunately for us Simms and Nantz wont be making that call, Charlie will be fine against the 4 win chargers, the bungholes beat em even with Dalton throwing 2 picks, they ran the ball for 128 yards against the bolts, we can do the same, Ben needs another week and Rivers is in a season long slump, so no hurry to get Ben back for this game in my opinion....

 

i just don't see ben having the arm stregnth back in another week. don't forget hoyer will have another week under his belt and lefty will be closer to healthy too. if ben can he will, if he can't we will roll on with what we have until ben is ready.

we must keep winning this was just one game in our run to the playoffs. important? yes, but we are not out of the woods yet. i'd feel better beating the colts for the 5th seed. they have houston twice. we are also still after the division title. i hope this sends the rats into a spiral, going into the final 4 weeks.

 

The win vs the Ravens will allow the Steelers to be more cautious with Ben. I hope they are.

 

I'd say the urgency drops a notch or two after yesterday's performance. The D appears to be starting to re-gain it's intensity and is obviously playing angry now. I knew that the CLE game was an aberration as far as Batch was concerned and that an additional week of reps with the first team would shake off some of the rust. He was much sharper in his throws (most of them, anyway). His main problem, IMO, is that he doesn't get the arc on the ball that Ben can achieve, and that leads to some of the INTs we've been seeing. Ben throws them in a spot (normally) where only the receiver has a chance to get them.

So, I'd say all in all we are in good shape no matter who starts. If Ben is throwing pain-free, then he starts. Otherwise, we have a more-than-capable backup in Batch.

 

Its still very urgent IMO....every one is calling the Browns game the fluke....but it could just as easily be the Ravens game that is the fluke.

Charlie is 1 and 1 this year.

I love the man...and was close to shedding a tear when he was shedding his tears after the game......but Ben is the franchise...and the Steelers can not afford another Titans, Raiders, Browns loss

The Broncos stomped us....the Ravens probably should have lost both games this year......but those 3 against the bottom dwellers hurt is badly

HACK