Ben Roethlisberger has repeatedly made history for the Pittsburgh Steelers, including a pair of games in 2014 where he dominated two teams that were considered Super Bowl contenders that year. Roethlisberger looked poised to win the MVP after those games in the middle of the season. In fact, the numbers that he put up have not been replicated since, and they have never been done before the 2014 season. These records just add to an already-long list of accomplishments and reasons he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Pittsburgh Steelers huddle vs. Indianapolis Colts. Photo Credit – Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
In Week 8, the Steelers hosted the Indianapolis Colts in an offensive showdown, especially in the second quarter. The two teams combined for 45 points in the quarter alone, including three touchdowns for Roethlisberger. He completed over 80 percent of his passes for 522 yards and six touchdowns. Two different receivers had over 100 receiving yards for the Steelers, as both Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck combined for over 900 yards passing.
The Steelers have been known to have the Colts' number, and it showed in this game all the way down to Troy Polamalu shutting down Pat McAfee's fake field goal attempt before it ever happened. Even with that and the Steelers scoring nine points on defense, Roethlisberger's air show dominated the game. It was a great game that was very hard to match.
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The very next week, the Steelers hosted a primetime matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. It didn't look like the Steelers could duplicate their performance from the previous week until the second quarter again. Roethlisberger had three quick touchdown strikes in the quarter, then had three more quick strikes in the fourth quarter. He wasn't perfect, but he was able to light it up with a flick of a switch (and his wrist).
The Steelers were rolling so well that even a botched PAT turned to gold. It seemed like the Steelers could do no wrong, even after giving up a kickoff return touchdown to Jacoby Jones. Roethlisberger ended the game with 340 yards and another six touchdowns. In both games, he combined for 862 yards and 12 touchdowns. That alone hasn't ever been done in the history of the NFL, but there's so much more to it.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs
Roethlisberger Makes History For The Steelers And The NFL
As mentioned before, the 862/12 mark over two games has never been done before. In fact, no quarterback has ever thrown for 12 touchdowns in a two-game span, as Roethlisberger is the only quarterback to throw for six touchdowns in back-to-back games. There have been other elite outings, like Nick Foles in the NFC Conference Championship and the Super Bowl. Even though that was more meaningful, the actual numbers don't compare to the Steelers in 2014.
With the 522-yard game against the Colts, Roethlisberger also became the first quarterback in NFL history to record over 500 yards in a single game twice in a career. Only one other quarterback has matched that, with Tom Brady achieving that feat a few years later. Roethlisberger still holds the record for most 500+ yard games in one's career, with four such games, including one of them in the playoffs. Brady only has two, and no one else has more than one.
What do you think of Roethlisberger having a pair of games that were so good that no quarterback has ever matched that stretch? Let us know in the comments.
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