Ebony Bird
FanSided

Top question facing Ravens and each of their AFC North foes

By Chris Schisler

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns jumps off the line during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns jumps off the line during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 15: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 15: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

The biggest question for the Pittsburgh Steelers: What kind of Ben Roethlisberger can the Pittsburgh expect?

The quarterback position is still a huge area of doubt for the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger is 38 years old and coming back from a 2019 season stealing elbow injury. It’s hard to know how much Pittsburgh can expect from Roethlisberger. On top of that their backup quarterback situation didn’t exactly improve. The Steelers have to hope that Roethlisberger can hold for a couple years until they find a good successor, because we saw last year it isn’t Mason Rudolph.

The Steelers have a lot of things going for them. Their defense is legitimately good and as long as Mike Tomlin is there, it’s hard imagining them be a bad team. The offense could be a little lackluster though. James Connor didn’t have a huge 2019 season. JuJu Smith-Schuster is good, but the Steelers need other receivers to step up now that Antonio Brown isn’t there anymore.

If Roethlisberger isn’t the Pro Bowl caliber quarterback we all remember, the Steelers are still in a rough spot offensively. If Roethlisberger has lost the magic, the Steelers look like an average team with an above average defense. Basically, it could be like last season with a more experienced quarterback. The Steelers once had one of the most exciting offenses in football and now the whole unit is a little suspect. There are good pieces but we still have to see if this version of the Steelers can win a shootout. Last year, it was basically a test to see if you could get to 20 points to beat the Steelers. If Roethlisberger’s play diminishes, it could be the same kind of deal.

Next. Ravens Q&A: Talking about Lamar Jackson. dark

If Roethlisberger is what he used to be, the Steelers are going to be a team you have to look out for. It’s just a huge if. 2018 was his best statistical season. He’s not far removed from his statistical peak. If there is anything Baltimore knows about the Steelers it is that when Roethlisberger has it, you don’t want him to get the football last. This could go either way but it’s a big question we need the answer to. It’s a big if with Big Ben.

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