Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had his worst game in over a year when the Steelers lost last Sunday at home to the Cincinnati Bengals. His coaches are hoping for a Big Ben bounce-back in Kansas City.
"In the past you didn't want to play him; he's been outstanding at bouncing back," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "He takes it personal, like all of us. He can't wait to come back and play the next one."
Roethlisberger threw one interception and no touchdowns and completed just 20-of-40 for 174 yards in an 18-12 loss to the Bengals. His 51.5 passer rating was his lowest in a full game since a 38.5 rating Oct. 26, 2008, in a 21-14 loss to the New York Giants.
"I hope I don't have too many bad games," Roethlisberger said. "You hope you get one, get it done and get it out of the way and kind of put things in perspective and look forward.
"Actually, at the beginning of the game I didn't feel great, my arm didn't feel good whatever, but the first drive we connected and went down the field, I had a scramble, hit a couple of completions and I kind of thought -- good -- I shook that funk off, but it never quite came around."
Roethlisberger said he did not have a sore or stiff arm and maintains there is nothing wrong with his throwing arm. However, several of his deep passes to rookie Mike Wallace were underthrown.
"No, that's Mike Wallace being real fast and (me) just not being able to step into it or whatever," Roethlisberger said. "That's just another thing, the ball wasn't coming off my hand great."
--Fans have been all over kicker Jeff Reed for missing tackles on two kickoff returns that went for touchdowns against the Steelers this season.
"Man, I am not going to go down to evaluating Jeff Reed as a tackler," coach Mike Tomlin said. "When it comes down to that, we have failed as a coverage unit. I don't lose any sleep on the quality of Jeff Reed's tackles -- or tackle attempts."
--The last time the Steelers played against a Clancy Pendergast-coached defense, they drove 88 yards to victory in Super Bowl XLIII.
"I'm pretty sure he wants to go out and put on a better showing than what they did in the Super Bowl," Hines Ward said.
--PETA gave the thumbs up to the Steelers and Heinz Field this week. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals named Heinz one of the best vegetarian-friendly stadiums in the NFL. The Steelers came in third behind Oakland and San Francisco.
BY THE NUMBERS
1 -- The number of rushing touchdowns by the Kansas City Chiefs and the number the Steelers rush defense is ranked in the NFL.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I just look at those people like they don't know what they're talking about." -- K Jeff Reed, responding to criticism that he did not try hard enough to make a tackle Sunday on a kickoff return.
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