Steelers Throwback Thursdays: Roethlisberger owns Ravens in comeback wins
Before the NFL officially gears up for the 2022-23 season, Steel City Underground will be taking fans back in time to feature events, special moments, and historical times in the world of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers Nation. Join us as we revisit these moments in our “Throwback Thursdays”.
Although the Roethlisberger era is over for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s interesting – historically – how many comeback wins the quarterback orchestrated. We’ll look at the number of times he bested the AFC North Baltimore Ravens in fourth-quarter winning drives and comebacks in his career.
Steelers, Ravens rivalry
Ben Roethlisberger loved the challenge that the Ravens presented in the divisional rivalry. Baltimore always seemed to bring their A-game when it came to playing Pittsburgh. The games were some of the most physical gridiron battles season after season.
I told a lot of those guys that I am not going to miss playing the Ravens,” Roethlisberger said shortly after his retirement in January 2022.
“This game is, against them specifically, football is already a very violent game, but playing these guys is one where you wake up the next day and you’re hurt. It’s never dirty. It’s just good old-fashioned football.”
Over the years, Roethlisberger took his fair share of hits and sacks from the Ravens. It’s not surprising he will long remember those matchups.
Ravens pay in comebacks, game-winning fourth-quarter drives
Roethlisberger orchestrated comeback wins in stunning fashion thought his career, but no team paid as big of a price as the Ravens. In 41 fourth-quarter career comebacks (53 game-winning drives) during the NFL regular season, he managed ten against Baltimore; the most against any single team.
“Big Ben” also pulled off a fourth-quarter game-winning drive in the playoffs against the Ravens in 2010.
During his final season in 2021, Roethlisberger helped the Steelers earn a comeback win against the Ravens twice during the regular season, sweeping their rivals in divisional play.
“I’m surprised there’s not even more comebacks than that. He had the last laugh in a lot of those games.” – Haloti Ngata
Earned respect from Ravens
The fact that Roethlisberger owned the Ravens in late-game and comeback wins didn’t prevent him from earning respect from Baltimore players.
“He’s one of those rare players that raised the level of not only the players around him, but the players that played against him,” Terrell Suggs said. “You couldn’t have a bad game and (think) you were going to win against him. You couldn’t make mistakes and think you were going to win. He was always going to compete and he was always going to try to make a play. That’s going to be his legacy.”
