Could This Be The End?
Many Steelers fans are predicting this season may be the last for Ben Roethlisberger.
Veteran Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a poor start to the season, which has fans asking if it will be his last.
October 1, 2021
Tom Brady is the oldest quarterback in the National Football League. Lately, however, Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has looked far older than Brady, who continues to perform to the top of his abilities.
Questions continue to arise about Roethlisberger’s talent after the Steelers’ disappointing fall to the Cincinnati Bengals, who now have a record of 2-1, on Sunday, September 26th.
Steelers fans at NASH are understandably concerned.
“I think this should be his final year, and he can retire with dignity,” Pre-Calculus and Algebra teacher Mr. Nicholas Hannan said.
According to ESPN, Sunday’s 24-10 loss was the first loss at the Steelers’ home field to the Bengals since 1994.
During last week’s game, Roethlisberger, who has played for the Steelers since 2004, completed 38 out of 58 passes, 32 of those within 10 yards. Additionally, he threw just a one-yard touchdown but not without two interceptions.
Such statistics have not given the 39-year old quarterback the best reception by the media.
Oliver Connolly, a writer for The Guardian, said in a recent article, “Roethlisberger is a dinosaur fighting extinction, a rhythmic, move-the-chains passer in a league that now demands an explosive, down-the-field passing game.”
Students and teachers at North Allegheny Senior High School agree with Connolly, believing that it is time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to make some big changes.
“He just doesn’t have his line anymore and age is a big factor in it too, not to mention the fact that he fell without anybody touching him,” junior Joey Gaita commented.
With the Steelers 1-2 record, doubts about not only Big Ben but the offensive line as well are on the rise. Some believe, however, that he is not the only contributor to the Steelers’ faults. Matt Canada, the Steelers’ latest offensive coordinator, has also gotten some shade.
“The offensive line, Matt Canada, and Big Ben are equally responsible for the Steelers’ woes,” Hannan explained. “The offensive line and Canada are new to their roles, so I expect them to grow better as the year goes on.”
For senior Zach Webster, the strategies on the field aren’t benefiting the team the way it should.
“I don’t like what I’ve seen this year at all,” Webster said. “We try to run an offense that is best used with a threat of a running quarterback but Ben is not that guy.”
After just three games played during the 2021-2022 regular season, many viewers are trending negative toward the six-time Super Bowl-winning team, but not senior, Anthony Provenzano.
“Every quarterback has a bad stretch of games and I think he’ll be able to bounce back,” Provenzano predicted. “I have high hopes for this season because of the great defense and I think we will be able to work out the kinks with the offense.”
Provenzano added, however, that he thinks a Roethlisberger retirement at the end of the season is a good idea.
“I’d say this will be his last season, but I’m one of the few people I know that have faith in him. He’s an all time great,” he said..
Like Provenzano, senior Alex Galbiati is optimistic about Big Ben.
“If he starts performing well in the next couple of weeks, he might have two years left, which will prove he is worthy enough to stay with the Steelers,” Galbiati said.
The Steelers’ recent and unexpected losses are leading to harsh feedback from Yinzer Nation. Should the team’s woes last, it may spell the end of the Ben Roethlisberger era.
Mr. Hannan • Oct 1, 2021 at 2:47 pm
Great article! Hope Ben proves us wrong.