PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers have every reason to be excited about Ben Roethlisberger's return from suspension Sunday.
They're 3-1 despite playing without their starting quarterback or his backup. They've rediscovered their running game. They've had a weekend off to relax and get away from football for the first time since training camp started July 30.
And they're playing their AFC North rivals -- the Cleveland Browns.
"I'm excited, but if you have to use me coming back as motivation against the Cleveland Browns, we've got something wrong," Roethlisberger said Monday. "It's a divisional game, an AFC North game, and that's all we should need."
That Dec. 12 loss came four days after a 27-24, last-minute defeat to the Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field and stretched the reigning Super Bowl champion Steelers' losing streak to five games. Pittsburgh regrouped to win its final three over the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins, but the damage had been done.
What Roethlisberger remembers are the cold and confusion in Cleveland. Temperatures were in the single digits and, for much of the game, it seemed as if the Steelers' offensive yardage was, too, despite playing an 1-11 opponent.
"They really got after us. We never want to make excuses, but we really just didn't play good football," Roethlisberger said. "It was cold and windy, but they just got after us. Point blank, and we just couldn't do anything on offense."
The Steelers expect that to be much different Sunday, especially now that Roethlisberger will be under center in a regular-season game for the first time since that 30-24 victory at Miami on Jan. 3.
Because of the Steelers' fortuitously scheduled bye, they had three days of practice with Roethlisberger last week, so they didn't have to rush into getting him ready immediately after playing a game with another quarterback.
The Steelers ran effectively in their first four games -- Rashard Mendenhall is No. 5 in rushing with 411 yards -- even without the threat of a quarterback who could consistently thrown downfield. Without Roethlisberger or the injured Byron Leftwich (knee), Pittsburgh averaged an NFL-low 136 passing yards per game with Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch at quarterback.
All that is expected to change now that Roethlisberger is back.
"Ben's one of the best quarterbacks in the game, so I'm expecting him to get in there and make some plays," wide receiver Mike Wallace said. "And I want to be a big part of that by catching some more balls. I think we can make some more plays together, and I'm looking forward to it."
If the Steelers win -- and they haven't lost at home to Cleveland since 2003 -- they'll be 4-1 for the third time in four seasons before going on the road to play the Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
