Film Study: Ben Roethlisberger Dazzles Against Bengals

The Steelers came out and crushed the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday with a convincing 36-10 victory at Heinz Field. While the team remains undefeated at 9-0, there are still issues to be had with the team, but it is undeniable how good the passing game has been this season. Despite Ben Roethlisberger missing most of the week, the Steelers passing game did not miss a beat. Roethlisberger threw for over 300 passing yards and four touchdowns on the day. Even with no running game, the Steelers offense continues to churn thanks to Roethlisberger directing the offense like a symphony. His performance against the Bengals is one of his most impressive to date.

Roethlisberger Lights Up Bengals Secondary

The Bengals came in with injuries across the board, but especially at the cornerback position. It was not helped when they lost Mackensie Alexander to a concussion in the second quarter. The Steelers and Roethlisberger methodically attacked the depleted secondary as a result, but that does not make Roethlisberger’s performance any less impressive. The first half may have been his best half of the entire season.

The deep ball has been inconsistent this season, and Roethlisberger still had some misses in this category on Sunday. However, his deep ball looked as good as it has all year. This throw to Diontae Johnson is the best deep ball throw he has arguably since the Week 2 touchdown to Chase Claypool. Roethlisberger does a great job looking off the safety to give himself space to peak this back to Johnson. Even as he feels a defender around his ankles, Roethlisberger steps into this throw and drives a dime to Johnson. That is right in the bucket and leads Johnson perfectly, too. It is arguably his best throw of the day and a promising sign for the Steelers moving forward.

The Steelers have not run this throw up the seam almost all year. However, this throw is impressive despite it being slightly behind Eric Ebron. Roethlisberger reads the outside shade and Cover 3 defense like a book. Once the linebacker opens up his hips and turns his back, he knows he has this throw open. This is a textbook of anticipation, as Ebron is not even out of his break when Roethlisberger fires this rocket into the window. The timing is perfect and allows for this completion to occur, and timing has been spotty at times in this offense.

A similar play, but Roethlisberger’s dart here is allowed by a combination of factors. First, Roethlisberger weaponizes his eyes and looks off the linebacker to move him towards the flat by pump faking in Ebron’s direction. This essentially becomes a Tampa 2 with the linebacker dropping in between the two fanning safeties at the top of coverage. For this pass to be complete, it has to be absolutely perfect. Roethlisberger’s ball placement is at a point where Claypool can attack it and make the catch, but the velocity on this pass is impressive. The arm talent Roethlisberger displays here makes this throw one of his best on the day.

Roethlisberger was flexing his arm talent all evening on Sunday. While he threw plenty of absolute screamers, the ability to throw at different speeds is the very definition of arm talent. There are few better examples of that this play. Roethlisberger wants to hit a quick pass out of the stack look, but it is covered up. He does a great job of staying calm in the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield. No one is really open here, but Roethlisberger floats this pass perfectly to Ebron. Even if Vonn Bell does not fall, he is not making this play. That touch is impressive.

However, this is perhaps the best two plays of the day for Roethlisberger. Despite limited mobility at the age of 38, Roethlisberger still has the ability to extend plays out of structure. That is an invaluable tool in today’s NFL and Roethlisberger has that tool from his younger days still in his arsenal. The first throw to Claypool is a rocket that should have been caught by Claypool. Roethlisberger puts it right where it needs to be and kept his eyes downfield. The second throw to JuJu Smith-Schuster is not about the throw as it is about his pre-snap recognition. Roethlisberger sees the blitz look of the right edge and knows it right away. He feels the pressure, steps up in the pocket, and puts the ball right where it needs to be for Smith-Schuster. A rookie might not see that blitz or have the perfect pocket movement to accompany the read, but that is where the experience of Roethlisberger comes into play.

The Steelers are 9-0, and it is in large part thanks to Roethlisberger. He continues to perform at a high-level in a season coming off of elbow surgery. The arm talent is still there in spades, and Roethlisberger somehow seems to be getting only better down the stretch. If he continues to play at the level he is playing right now, the Steelers can go the entire way.