The Pittsburgh Steelers will start Mason Rudolph over Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17, head coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday.
The Steelers are 12-3 on the season after starting 11-0. While the Buffalo Bills are also 12-3, getting the No. 2 seed isn't quite as important this season because only one team gets a bye. The 14-1 Kansas City Chiefs have already locked that up, and the streaking Bills hold the tiebreaker over Pittsburgh.
With this in mind, Tomlin is looking to rest some of his veterans. While Roethlisberger will get the day totally off, other vets could also see reduced playing time:
Mike Tomlin said he may reduce snaps for other #Steelers veterans vs #Browns, as opposed to fully sitting them. But he adamantly says he doesn't want his team graded on a curve: "Our job is winning. We intend to do our job. We intend to prepare w/ that mindset."
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 29, 2020
This is especially notable for a Browns team fighting for their playoff lives. Cleveland is 10-5 on the season, putting them in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. Four other teams are 10-5, including the No. 8 Indianapolis Colts. A loss to the Steelers could knock the Browns out of the playoffs, but a win gets them in.
Tomlin insists the possibility of facing Cleveland in the playoffs didn't factor in his Roethlisberger decision:
#Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says the potential of playing the #Browns in the wild card round "does not factor in whatsoever" in his decision NOT to play QB Ben Roethlisberger this coming week vs the Browns.
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 29, 2020
The 38-year-old Roethlisberger has had an up-and-down season. While his overall numbers look good, his play in recent weeks raised concerns about Pittsburgh's offense and how it will function in the playoffs.
Those concerns weren't alleviated as the Steelers fell behind the Indianapolis Colts 24-7 in Week 16, but then Roethlisberger turned it on in the second half, leading a big comeback to earn a 28-24 victory and the AFC North crown. The veteran gunslinger threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. He has 3,804 passing yards and 33 touchdowns in 2020.
Rudolph has barely played this season after seeing extended time in 2019 due to Roethlisberger's elbow injury. The 25-year-old Rudolph completed 62.2% of his passes for 1,765 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.
Follow Us
Subscribe