Dec 3, 2016 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – If not for a decision here or a twist of fate there, it could have been Ben Roethlisberger of the New York Giants at Heinz Field today against the Steelers.

Instead, it was Eli Manning who was selected by the San Diego Chargers and then dealt to the Giants for Philip Rivers and draft picks, allowing Roethlisberger to fall to the 11th pick of the 2004 draft, where he was taken by the Steelers.

Roethlisberger had some expectations of going higher, but he’s perfectly fine with how things worked out.

“I wouldn’t change what happened for anything in the world,” Roethlisberger said.

Roethlisberger will lead the Steelers (6-5) against the Giants (8-3) and Manning today, marking just the fourth time they’ve played against each other. Roethlisberger has won two of the previous three matchups and given the ages of both and that fact these meetings come just once every four seasons, this game could be the last between the two – they’re next scheduled to meet in 2020 – unless they see each other in a Super Bowl.

Both have won two of those, making today’s game an even bigger rarity. Roethlisberger and Manning are one of just three quarterback pairs from the same draft class to have won at least one Super Bowl each. The others are Ringgold High School graduate Joe Montana and Phil Simms (1979) and Jim Plunkett and Joe Theismann (1971).

That puts Roethlisberger and Manning in some rarified air. And though Rivers hasn’t won a Super Bowl, the trio are all in the top 10 or edge of the top 10 in a number of all-time passing statistics and continuing to rise.

By the time all is said and done, the trio could all find themselves in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“I hope I am,” said Roethlisberger. “I would assume that he (Manning) is going to make it with everything he’s accomplished. And Philip has put up some tremendous numbers in this game. We’ve all been fortunate to play for a long time and been able to do a lot of great things. So that would be an awesome honor. But hopefully, that’s a long way off.”

In the meantime, there’s a game to be won today, and it’s important for both teams.

The Steelers find themselves tied for the AFC North lead with Baltimore and need to keep winning to keep pace. The Giants, meanwhile, trail Dallas (11-1) in the NFL East, though New York handed the Cowboys their only loss this season in Week 1.

Manning knows the Giants, who employ a ball-control no-huddle offense, will need to score to keep up with the Steelers, who have gotten 15 touchdown passes in four home games from Roethlisberger.

“I think every game you know you have to score,” said Manning of the Giants, who have averaged 18 points per game on the road. “We feel we can score. We have to execute well, play smart and make the plays that are there.”

The Steelers have done that the past two weeks to pull out of a four-game losing streak. But those wins have come against Cleveland and Indianapolis, which was playing without quarterback Andrew Luck.

Still, the confidence built by the defense that starts three rookies in corner Artie Burns, safety Sean Davis and nose tackle Javon Hargrave has the Steelers hoping to continue their strong defensive play against a more formidable opponent.

“Those guys have stepped up a lot,” said Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt. “Just as a confidence level between those two guys, it can’t be any better for them to go into a game and know they can change a game by the way they play.”

Both Manning and Roethlisberger know something about changing games by the way they play. They’ve both done it throughout their careers.

The two have kept a close eye on each other’s careers from afar over the years and want each other to do well with one caveat – when they play each other.

“I respect him, his game and what he’s brought to the game of football,” said Roethlisberger of Manning. “I don’t know him, really, on a personal level, other than if I see him, we talk. I think it’s just a big-time respect for the game of football and what he’s accomplished.”

With placekicker Chris Boswell added to the injury list as questionable with an abdomenal strain, the Steelers signed veteran placekicker Randy Bullock. Bullock spent three seasons with the Houston Texans and last kicked in the NFL for the Jets in 2015. To make room on the active roster, cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz was released. … Today’s game will include three players with the longest consecutive games played streaks at their respective positions. Manning has started 205 consecutive games to lead all quarterbacks, while Steelers corner William Gay has appeared in 155 straight games, the most of any defensive player in the league. Pittsburgh linebacker Lawrence Timmons has appeared in 96-straight games to lead his position. … Punter Brad Wing, who was traded to the Giants by the Steelers in 2015, is averaging 47.2 yards per kick. Steelers punter Jordan Berry is averaging 46.1 yards per kick.