Big Game Ben lifts Steelers over Jets NFL Superbowl Betting Odds

Yes, Roethlisberger’s numbers were downright dreadful in the Steelers’ 24-19 NFL Picks victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game but Big Ben’s game has never been about statistics. Big Ben is all about winning. Superbowl Betting Odds Pittsburgh Steelers +3 underdogs.

Let’s start with the only stats that really matter. Ben Roethlisberger is 2-0 in this year’s playoffs, pushing his career postseason win-loss record to 10-2, including two Super Bowl championships. Can Peyton Manning say that? How about Phillip Rivers? Those two guys have won Super Bowl ring between them. Tom Brady has won three championships and has a career 12-5 postseason record, but his team’s have lost their last three playoff games, including the past two years at home with one and done both seasons.

Which leads us back to Ben.

The Steelers raced off to a 24-3 halftime lead and Ben was instrumental in that first half, though, not so much with his arm but with his legs. He ran for 12 yards for a crucial first down on their first drive of the game, a clock eating possession that nearly lasted 10 minutes. He also scored the team’s second touchdown on a nifty move at the goal line to extend the lead to 17-0. Yes, Ben threw his first interception and 198 attempts but he had the team driving and the crowd believing that this team was destined for Dallas.

When the wheels came off in the second half as the Jets outscored the Steelers 16-0 and came within a whisper of taking what seemed like an insurmountable lead away from Pittsburgh at home in surely what would have been described as the worst collapse in Steelers’ history, Ben rode to the rescue again. With 3:05 to go on the clock,  the Steelers had the ball at the forty and the game was in Ben’s hands. On second and eight, Ben hit Heath Miller for 14 yards and a first down but, with all three time outs in their hip pocket, there was still work to be done. The Steelers faced 3^rd and 6, with 2:00 minutes remaining. Instead of calling a run, the Steelers went pass. Ben was flushed out of the pocket and, facing heavy pressure, flipped the ball as only he could, over three defenders, and into the waiting hands of rookie Antonio Brown.

Completion. Game over.

The final game line on Ben Roethlisberger read like this:

Ten completions. 133 yards. 2 interceptions. A passer rating of 35.5.

AFC Champion.

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