2011 Steelers 14 vs Browns 3 TNF
December 8, 2011
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2011 Steelers 14 vs Browns 3 TNF

One of the truly remarkable performances of Ben Roethlisberger's career. Late in the 2nd quarter (51:41 mark), Ben suffers a gruesome, extremely painful ankle injury when he is "high/lowed" between two Cleveland defenders on a sack, twisting his ankle a full 110-degress off-axis, leaving him writhing on the field and sending him hobbling to the locker room for X-rays.

Miraculously, Ben returns at the start of the 2nd half with his ankle heavily taped, and despite playing with a severe limp and struggling at times to even make basic handoffs, finishes 16 of 21 for 280 yds and 2 TDs, the second of which is a beautiful back-shoulder strike to Antonio Brown, who takes it 79 yds for a game-clinching score with 2:52 left.

Roethlisberger's score comes moments after Colt McCoy, having driven his team to the Steeler 16 and threatening to take the lead, is intercepted in the end zone by William Gay.

Cleveland hangs around in this game despite being outplayed thanks to a pair fumbles deep in Cleveland territory by Heath Miller and Hines Ward, a 4th down goal-line stand by the Browns and 12 Steelers penalities for nearly 100 yds. But in the end, it's simply too much Ben.

To me, this is one of the greatest, gutsiest performances of Roethlisberger's career, epitomizing his toughness and unshakable will to win.

Game also features a BRUTAL head shot from James Harrison on Browns QB Colt McCoy at the 1:56:15 mark (about 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter) that draws a flag and earns Harrison a 1-game suspension.



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