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As good as he is, Ben Roethlisberger can’t do it all by himself.
The Steelers are proving that emphatically so far this season, stumbling to a 1-2 start despite a string of performances by their Pro Bowl quarterback, that probably couldn’t get much better.
Pittsburgh can start righting the ship this afternoon at home against the in-state rival Eagles, and the Steelers pretty much owe it to Roethlisberger to do exactly that after making him pretty much go it alone through the first three games.
Thanks to a porous offensive line, a practically non-existent running game and an injury-ravaged defense that is starting to show its age, Pittsburgh has all but wasted a sensational beginning by Big Ben.
The veteran passer leads the AFC with a 109.2 passer rating while throwing for eight touchdowns and almost 1,000 yards against just one interception, yet the Steelers have just a lone win over the woeful Jets to show for it while letting the 3-1 Ravens vault ahead of them in the AFC North race.
“He’s made very good decisions,” new offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. “When we’re in quick mode, he’s been tremendous. Now we have to start doing things to help him out.”
Reinforcements also could be on the way for Roethlisberger and the Steelers, who appear primed to welcome James Harrison and Troy Polumalu back to their defense and see Rashard Mendenhall carry the ball for the first time all season.
Philadelphia’s last road trip — to Arizona two weeks ago — was a disaster, as Michael Vick sloppily fumbled twice in an embarrassing 27-6 loss that prompted Andy Reid to hint Vick’s job was in jeopardy.
The Eagles rebounded in impressive fashion, though, nipping the Giants. 19-17, thanks to a resurgent running game led by LeSean McCoy (123 yards) that totaled 172 of its 191 overall yards in the second half.
That run game will pose a stiff test for a Steelers defense that ranks No. 2 in the AFC in yards allowed, though it was riddled in the second half of a 34-31 overtime loss to the Raiders.
Pittsburgh’s biggest problem on defense has been an uncharacteristic lack of turnovers — the Sttelers are even in turnover margin depite just one pick thrown by Roethlisberger.
It will be close, but the home-field edge will be enough for Pittsburgh.
PICK: Steelers, 27-24.
CONTENDERS
Broncos (2-2) at Patriots (2-2): It’s Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning again, except Manning is bringing the Broncos to Foxborough. The difference will come from New England’s defense, which has made the NFL’s leading offense (438.1 yards per game) even more dangerous by paving the way to a plus-8 turnover margin for the season.
PICK: Patriots, 34-30.
Falcons (4-0) at Redskins (2-2): Two of the best young QBs in the game square off — Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Washington’s Robert Griffin III. Ryan is first in the NFC with 11 TD passes and first in the league with a 112.1 QB rating. RG3 has exceeded all expectations with 1,070 passing yards and a 103.2 rating that ranks him second in the conference. The Falcons get the edge thanks to a ball-hawking defense that that has helped produce a whopping plus-10 turnover margin.
PICK: Falcons, 28-17.