Roethlisberger enjoys first day back on the field

Steelers franchise QB Ben Roethlisberger had some rough spots in the Steelers 28-10 win over the Cleveland Browns Sunday afternoon, but overall picked up the offense to throw for three TD’s to help the team get to 4-1 on the season.

The day started for the formerly suspended QB with a standing ovation from the home crowd, something that the QB took to heart before the game even started.

“I got a little bit of tears in my eyes, to hear a cheer like that was truly something special,” Roethlisberger said.

The first possession for the QB also had issues, as after he worked his way to get inside the Browns 20, he threw a bad interception that rookie Joe Haden took back 62 yards. Roethlisberger was looking for backup RB Mewelde Moore.

“I just got a little antsy Mewelde Moore was open I wanted to get him the ball right away when I needed to just settle down and get it to him,” Roethlisberger. “That being said we won the game and did pretty well on offense.”

He settled down, and started to look like his old self, avoiding tackles and at one point holding the ball to the last split second to hit Mike Wallace for a 29-yard TD to put the team up for good at 7-3. He also hit TD passes to Hines Ward from 8 yards out and TE Heath Miller from 14 yards out late.

The second half Roethlisberger played much better, and the team seemed to be a lot more in step, as they scored 21 points and had the game well in control as the defense made life tough for a Cleveland team that had to start their third-string QB in Colt McCoy.

Roethlisberger admits that he was able to be more at ease in the second half. “A little bit, you get jitters before any game, I do at least maybe this game a little more,” Roethlisberger said. “At halftime you get the chance to settle down. You have to come out a compose yourself in the second half.”

The day ended for the QB going 16-for-27 for 257 yards, with 3 TD’s and the pick. It will be interesting to see if he can follow up the outing in his first road game, next Sunday in Miami.