Twenty years have passed since Ben Roethlisberger entered the NFL as a rookie quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning all 12 of his regular-season starts. Back then, Roethlisberger was bolstered by a dominant defense, a theme that seems to resonate with the current Pittsburgh Steelers under the leadership of Justin Fields. Fields has led the team to their first 2-0 start since 2020, raising eyebrows and expectations.
A Flashback to Roethlisberger's Early Days
In his rookie year, Ben Roethlisberger benefited from playing alongside a fierce defense, and despite his inexperience, he steered the Steelers to an impressive record. Under head coach Bill Cowher in 2004, Roethlisberger stepped up after Tommy Maddox was injured in Week 2, ultimately setting an AFC record with 15 wins that season. The journey ended with a loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, but Roethlisberger eventually became the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
Fields' Efficient Start
Fast forward to today, Justin Fields's consistency and efficiency have been central to the Steelers' early success. Fields has completed nearly 70% of his passes in recent games, leading to road victories against Atlanta and Denver. Interestingly, these wins echoed Pittsburgh's traditional reliance on a strong defense. The team managed 18 points against Atlanta and 13 against Denver, further aided by kicker Chris Boswell, who made six field goals in the Atlanta game.
Roethlisberger has been vocal about Fields’s early achievements, expressing his endorsement of the young quarterback. "If Russ is healthy, I'm sticking with Justin. I think that he has earned and deserves the right to stay there," Roethlisberger stated. This vote of confidence is significant, given Roethlisberger's stature in Pittsburgh history. Fields has yet to commit a turnover this season, a critical factor in the team’s victories.
Roethlisberger's Sustained Faith in Fields
As Roethlisberger notes, Fields has been decisive and smart with his ball handling. "He's been efficient. He's been good with the ball. So I think you've got to stay with him, I really do, and see what happens," remarked Roethlisberger. The rookie's ability to avoid turnovers has been crucial in securing the wins, reflecting a wisdom beyond his years on the gridiron.
Roethlisberger draws a parallel between his early career and what Fields is experiencing now. “Once you get into a rhythm and you get good things going, you don't want to mess that up. Let's not mess up the rhythm of the team and what's going on, and I think they're building,” he elaborated. Indeed, the emphasis appears to be on maintaining continuity and momentum, critical in a sport where a single change can disrupt team chemistry.
Focus on Winning Over Personal Stats
While fans might clamor for showstopper stats, Roethlisberger underscores that the ultimate metric for a quarterback is wins. "Would you like to see 400 yards and three touchdowns and one rushing touchdown? Of course, you would. But you know what else you're going to be happy with? You'll be happy with a guy right now that wasn't even really supposed to probably start this year, going 2-0, taking care of the football, making plays, sometimes out of nothing when guys are getting in," he explained.
This pragmatic approach aligns with Roethlisberger’s own philosophy during his playing days. "I would tell him, the only stat that matters is a W and the turnovers. You're winning the turnover battle, and you're winning. Don't worry about what people are saying in terms of yards, in terms of touchdowns, in terms of all that. You're winning. At the end of the day, as a quarterback, that's what you want," cited Roethlisberger. Keeping the focus on winning, Roethlisberger built a career where victories often took precedence over individual numbers.
A Legacy of Winning
"I didn't always put up big numbers, but I prided myself in getting wins, and that's what you're supposed to do. As a quarterback, you're supposed to win football games by any means necessary," emphasized Roethlisberger. This ethos seems to be the guiding principle that he is passing down to Fields, a testament to the continuity of a winning mentality within the Steelers' organization.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Justin Fields to see if he can sustain this promising start, much like Roethlisberger did two decades ago. The legacy of winning at Pittsburgh demands nothing less, and Fields appears ready to rise to the challenge.