Ben Roethlisberger was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 43-14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.
Roethlisberger completed 22 of 27 passes for 300 yards and five touchdowns for a quarterback rating of 152.5, just shy of a perfect 158.3 rating. At one point in the first quarter he had three straight completions, all for touchdowns.
Roethlisberger threw four touchdown passes in the first half, the third time he has done that in his career. Two of those touchdowns went to Antonio Brown, who he has now connected with for more touchdowns (42) than any other teammate in his career.
Roethlisberger spread the ball around, with his 22 completions going to nine different receivers.
It was Roethlisberger's 47th 300-yard game in the regular season and his fifth career regular-season game with at least five touchdown passes, and the 11th time he threw for four or more touchdowns in a single game. He became the sixth quarterback in NFL history to throw at least five touchdown passes in five games, joining Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, George Blanda and Tom Brady.
Roethlisberger is the only quarterback to have thrown at least three touchdown passes in three games this season and the only quarterback to have thrown five touchdown passes in a game this season.
He is tied for the NFL lead with 11 touchdown passes, and those 11 touchdowns through the first four games tie a Steelers' record for most passing touchdowns in the first four games of any season with Terry Bradshaw, 1980 and Mark Malone, 1985. Roethlisberger has been named AFC Offensive Player of the Week 14 times in his career. His previous wins were as follows: Weeks 2 and 10, 2015; Weeks 8-9, 2014; Week 11, 2013; Weeks 5 and 8, 2011; Week 17, 2010; Week 15, 2009; Week 5, 2008; Weeks 10 and 16, 2007; and Week 6, 2004.
Everyone in the Steelers organization knows how special Roethlisberger is, but here is a look at what others have had to say about him.
Peter King – Sports Illustrated MMQB
"One of the things that has been so cool over the years to watch with him is his maturation as a passer and him being able to look at different ways of doing things. I just think any year he is going to play 15, 16 games, he is in the discussion to be the best quarterback in football. He has been around so long. You look at how long players are playing, and I think to myself, boy he could play another four or five years if he wants to. He is in the discussion with the best quarterbacks in football."
Dan Fouts – Hall of Fame quarterback, CBS Sports NFL Analyst
"There is no question he is one of the elite. He has the ability to lead his team, that is the word I think about when I think of Ben, leader. He always seems to be pulling one out of the fire and taking his team down the field. He has been a great quarterback for a long time and I expect him to have a great year this year."
For more on what is being said about Ben, click on What Makes Ben Special.
