Clearly most fans of the six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers will tell you that they’re pleased that the team fought and clawed its way to a 3-1 record during the four-game suspension of franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Nevertheless, it’s only natural for us to feel like the Steelers wasted a golden opportunity to take a two-game lead in the AFC North and improve to 4-0 heading into their Bye Week. What’s done is done though. Credit Baltimore for making enough big plays down the stretch to steal a victory at Heinz Field, and in the process, ascend to the top of the division at the quarter pole of the 2010 season.
The Steelers now have two weeks to heal physically, get Big Ben up to speed as best they can, and prepare for the 12-game grind that awaits them when they return to action in Week 6 to face the Cleveland Browns. Fortunately, the Steelers suffered no new injuries on Sunday, the first time that can be said this preseason or season.
Reserve nose tackle Chris Hoke (MCL) and Trai Essex (ankle), who were both inactive on Sunday, are on schedule to return in two weeks time. Here’s to hoping that nobody sustains a freak injury in practice. If not, the Steelers can feel good about their record, as well as their injury situation as they dig into the meat of their schedule following the Bye.