Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger preps for perhaps final game at his home-state Browns

Ben Roethlisberger grew up a 2-hour, 15-minute drive from Cleveland. His first start there was as a 22-year-old in 2004, seven months after the Browns bypassed him in the draft to select a tight end.

Sunday — perhaps — could be Roethlisberger’s final start at his home-state team that became a division rival, one he has dominated for much of his 18-year career.

“You appreciate the fans, you appreciate that environment, you appreciate the state of Ohio, where I’m from,” Roethlisberger said before Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday. “It’s one of those things you look forward to, to go in there and hopefully get a win.”

Ben Roethlisberger on playing on the road at his home-state team and division rival for one of the 1st times in his career where they (The Browns) are a legit contender pic.twitter.com/ZqXL0YjeB1

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 27, 2021

That seemingly never was an issue for Roethlisberger the first decade and a half of his NFL career. He was FirstEnergy Stadium’s all-time winningest starting quarterback until the Browns’ Baker Mayfield passed him last year. But after starting 11-2 in games played at Cleveland, Roethlisberger hasn’t won there since 2017.

He threw three interceptions in a season-opening tie at FirstEnergy in 2018. He was on injured reserve when the Steelers lost there in 2019 and was watching from the sidelines when coach Mike Tomlin rested most of his starters for a meaningless season finale at Cleveland this past January.

It has been a while since Roethlisberger has walked out of “The Dawg Pound” with a win.

“Anytime your fans have a nickname, or a (seating section) has a nickname, it’s pretty cool,” Roethlisberger said. “They like to get on us, and it’s part of the game. Obviously, when you go there and you play well and you win, it has a little extra feeling of satisfaction. But it’s not easy to play there.”

It also wasn’t easy for the Steelers when they hosted Cleveland in an AFC wild-card game less than 10 months ago. Roethlisberger threw three of his four interceptions in the first half as Cleveland jumped out to a 28-0 first-quarter lead and won 48-37.

It was a rare instance in which the Browns got the better of Roethlisberger. After the game, an emotional Roethlisberger and close friend Maurkice Pouncey sat alone on a bench. Pouncey, the longtime center, retired a few weeks later, and Roethlisberger was thought to be considering the same.

“Only one team ever ends the way they want to,” Roethlisberger said, “but I wouldn’t say that (devastating loss) was the reason I came back.”

Roethlisberger is 23-2-1 overall against the Browns, including 11-1 in games in which Joe Haden played for Cleveland. A member of the Steelers for a fifth season, Haden spent his first seven seasons with the Browns, oftentimes matching wits with Roethlisberger while serving as Cleveland’s No. 1 cornerback.

“Ben would tell me I was one of the ‘spotlight guys,’ ” Haden said. “‘On Wednesdays when we would come in, you would be on the big screen in the team meetings.’

“It feels good to know they were talking about me here, so now when I’m here, I’m watching to see who they talk about in Cleveland. (Current No. 1 cornerback) Denzel Ward, those guys.”

No current player on either team has been a part of more Steelers-Browns games than Haden or Roethlisberger, and it’s possible this will be the final one for each of them in Ohio. Haden is scheduled to become a free agent after the season, and Roethlisberger turns 40 in March.

Kevin Stefanski will be the eighth coach Roethlisberger will face when playing the Browns. Baker Mayfield is the 17th quarterback (all but one, Roethlisberger has beaten), although backup Case Keenum will start if Mayfield (left shoulder injury) can’t play.

“I don’t know this rivalry ever went away,” Roethlisberger said.

“Rivalries are great. AFC North football, they are always going to be rivals and there are going to be great games. I’m just glad that I’m not the most winning quarterback in their stadium history anymore.”