Jan 9, 2017 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – What? Them worry?

With apologies to Alfred E. Neuman of Mad Magazine for stealing his catch phrase, that was pretty much the feeling at the Steelers’ headquarters regarding quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger showed up for his post-game press conference wearing a walking boot to protect his right ankle after it was fallen on late in the Steelers’ 30-12 AFC Wild Card playoff win over the Miami Dolphins Sunday on a cold, icy Heinz Field.

Most of his teammates knew nothing about the injury and nobody felt it could be something to keep Roethlisberger from playing in the Steelers’ playoff game next Sunday in Kansas City.

“I didn’t know it on the field. I didn’t know it until after the game,” said Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert.

“He seems to be doing pretty well. The field was pretty bad. I’m sure we’ll see Ben on Sunday. I’m not worried about not having him.”

Roethlisberger’s ankle was twisted under him with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Miami’s Cameron Wake dragged him to the ground on a pass that was intercepted by cornerback Xavien Howard.

He later returned to the field to take a knee on Pittsburgh’s final offensive play and took every snap in the game. Roethlisberger then jogged off the field to the team’s locker room, which is why the sight of Roethlisberger in a protective boot caused some shockwaves.

“I was as surprised as you guys to see him in the boot,” admitted Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro.

But the Steelers were just being cautious with their 34-year-old quarterback, making certain he didn’t accidentally tweak something in a slightly stressed foot.

The fact Roethlisberger was still playing in a game that had long been decided, however, did create some teeth gnashing on social media and local talk radio.

Head coach Mike Tomlin, who did not mention any kind of injury to Roethlisberger in his post-game press conference, has typically allowed Roethlisberger to finish games, even in blowouts.

And other NFL coaches have also done the same. For example, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers took every snap in the Packers’ 38-13 win over the Giants Sunday.

But Tomlin had already pulled running back Le’Veon Bell for backup DeAngelo Williams on the series Roethlisberger was hit by Wake.

“You have to have your foot on the pedal,” said Gilbert. “If your take it off, things tend to turn the opposite way.”

Roethlisberger completed 13 of 18 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. He attempted just five passes in the second half and won his 12th career playoff game, moving him out of a tie with former Dallas stars Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach and into sole possession of seventh place on the all-time list.

Roethlisberger will try to match former Green Bay star Brett Favre with 13 postseason wins against the Chiefs.

And his teammates won’t question if he’s in there for every snap of that game, whether the Steelers are up 20 points or down 20 points.

“After every single game, there’s questions that come up, what we should have done, this and that,” said Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva. “I can tell you that I’ve never thought, ‘Why are we doing something?’ I follow orders from the coaches. Ben calls the plays. I don’t care who’s in the huddle.”

The Steelers and Chiefs have met just once in the postseason, a 27-24 overtime victory by the Chiefs in Kansas City in 1994. That also is Kansas City’s last home playoff victory. … After Miami quarterback Matt Moore missed just one play following a big hit by Pittsburgh linebacker Bud Dupree in the second quarter Sunday, the NFL said Monday it will review its concussion protocol. Dupree was penalized for a helmet-to-helmet hit on the play and Moore was down on the field for several minutes before quickly returning to the game. … Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said that outside linebacker Justin Houston and running back Spencer Ware, who were held out of games late in the season because of injuries, will be ready to play against the Steelers. Houston had swelling in his knee, which was surgically repaired in the offseason and limited him to five games this season, while Ware had a rib injury.