In one of the most exciting games of this NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Green Bay Packers 37-36 on the strength of a 503-yard passing performance from Ben Roethlisberger.
It was a wild back-and-forth battle that featured plenty of big plays from both sides, some questionable decisions (including an unsuccessful onside kick attempted by the Steelers) and, most of all, those video game-like numbers from Roethlisberger.
Overall, Roethlisberger completed 29 of 46 passes for 503 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. His first and last passes were touchdowns to rookie wide receiver Mike Wallace, who somehow managed to get his toes down on a pass at the side of the end zone as time expired to give the Steelers to win.
“It was a heck of a game,” Roethlisberger said afterward. “I’m really proud of the way our guys fought. We had to go [86] yards on our last drive. Mike Wallace, I told him I was disappointed because he gave up on a play, and I told him, ‘If you get open on this one I’m coming to you.’ He got open and made a heck of a catch.”
Roethlisberger is certainly right that it was a heck of a game, although it might not turn out to be a particularly significant game in the playoff race: Despite falling to 9-5 the Packers are still likely to be an NFC wild card team, and despite improving to 7-7 the Steelers are still unlikely to make the playoffs in the AFC.
But even if the game doesn’t have much significance going forward, it was still a great game on a great day of football.
With one more big game to go.
