Ben Roethlisberger learned a long time ago that the quarterback always has to take blame for a loss. It is one reason he has grown into a great team leader, one reason the Steelers made him a $100 million man. When he gets sacked five times, he says he should have thrown the ball sooner. When his receivers drop passes, he says he should have made better throws. When the Steelers defense gives up 35 points, he says he should have found a way to score 36.
Most of the time, Roethlisberger doesn't deserve the blame. Sunday, he did.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees outplayed Roethlisberger by a wide margin at Heinz Field. That, as much as any reason, is why the Saints won, 35-32, and left the Steelers staggering in the fight for the AFC North Division title.
"I need to play better," Roethlisberger said.
Don't be fooled by Roethlisberger's final numbers. He passed for 166 of his 435 yards and both touchdowns on the Steelers final two drives, long after the outcome had been decided. Earlier, when it was a competitive game, he wasn't nearly good enough. He completed 8 of 22 passes for 115 yards and an interception in the first half, then threw a bad interception on the Steelers first possession of the third quarter. The Saints quickly turned that turnover into a touchdown and a 21-6 lead.
Roethlisberger's two interceptions were critical, the only turnovers of the game.
"Anytime you can be positive in the turnover ratio, your chances of winning go way up," Brees said.
Brees, a future Hall of Famer, made Roethlisberger and the Steelers pay, throwing five touchdown passes and finishing with a 140.0 passer rating.
"He was extremely sharp," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "He was on."
Roethlisberger was not.
Who saw this coming?
In the Steelers three previous home games -- lopsided wins against the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens -- Roethlisberger was as good as he's ever been in his Hall of Fame-caliber career, completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,127 yards, 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. The wind might have been more of a factor Sunday, but Roethlisberger refused to use that as an excuse. It certainly didn't have a negative impact on Brees. Roethlisberger also banged his right hand when he was hit by linebacker Curtis Lofton as he threw a pass late in the first quarter. That forced him to hand off awkwardly with his left hand on the next couple plays. He kept flexing his hand and left the huddle at one point to throw a warm-up pass to backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski on the sideline. Again, he offered no excuse.
"I just hit something. I'm sure every quarterback has that happen every game. Does it hurt? Yeah. Did it affect my throwing? No. The ball was spinning good, it was just high."
From the beginning, the ball sailed on Roethlisberger. He overthrew receiver Markus Wheaton deep down the middle on the Steelers first play. Later in the half, there were high throws for receiver Martavis Bryant and running back Le'Veon Bell and two for tight end Heath Miller. The failed passes for Miller especially stung, costing at least a field goal on their final drive of the half.
Roethlisberger's first interception came when he threw into double coverage for receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey in the end zone.
"They had everybody doubled and we didn't have a check-down because we were in max protect so everybody was in," Roethlisberger said. "It was either take a shot or get sacked. The safety [Kenny Vaccaro] made the play, I didn't. I didn't throw it far enough."
Roethlisberger's second interception happened when defensive end Cameron Jordan tipped his pass in the air and caught it. Roethlisberger easily could have thrown four more interceptions. Cornerback Patrick Robinson dropped two passes, safety Pierre Warren one. Robinson nearly had another interception in the end zone only to have receiver Antonio Brown rip the ball from his hands.
"It was just one of those days that the balls were coming out high," Roethlisberger said. "They tipped a lot of balls, more than usual. I have to make throws early on that I didn't make today and I usually do."
Next up for the Steelers is a game Sunday at Cincinnati, their first of two matchups against the Bengals in the final four games. The Bengals were the only AFC North team to win Sunday and lead the division with an 8-3-1 record. The Steelers, Ravens and Cleveland Browns are 7-5.
Last week, Roethlisberger described the game against the Saints as "must-win." You probably can guess how he is looking at the game against the Bengals.
"We have to take care of our business," Roethlisberger said. "The big thing for us is to stay together."
And for the quarterback to play better.
Much better.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com. Ron Cook can be heard on the "Cook and Poni" show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
First Published: December 1, 2014, 5:00 a.m.