Nov 3, 2014 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Ben Roethlisberger’s historic level of play can readily be seen on the football field.

But it’s his level of leadership with a young offense that has been most apparent during the Steelers’ three-game winning streak that pushed their record to 6-3 following a 43-23 beatdown of the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night.

Roethlisberger threw for 340 yards and six more touchdowns against the Ravens, who had allowed just seven TD passes all season. The Steelers quarterback became the first player in NFL history to throw 12 TD passes over consecutive games and the first since Y.A. Tittle in 1962 to have multiple games in the same season with six or more touchdown passes.

“He’s being Ben right now,” said guard Ramon Foster. “He’s getting more comfortable, hitting his stride. The team is growing. The defense is picking up their stuff and we’re playing as a complete team. His leadership skills have taken off triple-fold. You can tell as of late, from his play and the way he deals with the offense and speaks to the team, he’s coming along.”

Early in his career, Roethlisberger wasn’t counted on to be a leader on a veteran team that included many strong personalities. But on this young team – he and tight end Heath Miller are the only starters on offense who are 29 or older – Roethlisberger has been the guy head coach Mike Tomlin relies on to be a friend to younger players, or the guy who gets into their face when they make a mistake.

“You look to him more, whether it’s him making a play or him bringing a guy in and talking to him,” Foster said. “He’s made great strides. It’s showing in his play and everything right now.”

That’s not bad for a guy who was hurt by comments made by former teammate Emmanuel Sanders, who said earlier this season that Roethlisberger’s leadership skills weren’t on par with those of Denver quarterback Peyton Manning.

Roethlisberger has spent a lot of time this season working with receivers after practice. And when second-year receiver Markus Wheaton came to him and asked what he was doing wrong a few weeks ago, after the two had rough games at Cleveland, Roethlisberger took him into the film room and they went over every pass play.

“He is doing the things we need him to do,” Tomlin said. “But I don’t think any of us are surprised by anything he does. We have been looking at it for some time.”

Roethlisberger had a stretch as good as this in his 11-year career. In the past three games, he has completed 74 percent of his passes for 1,127 yards, 14 touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 142.4. He has likely pushed his way into the conversation for league MVP.

Up next are the New York Jets, a team that has allowed 24 TD passes, six more than any other team.

“It’s just amazing to watch him,” defensive end Brett Keisel said. “Six touchdowns back to back? Let’s get seven touchdowns next week. Shoot, what’s the big deal?”

Ironically, the Steelers have run very little of the no-huddle offense that Roethlisberger has long lobbied to utilize. Pittsburgh went with a no-huddle just once in 65 snaps against the Ravens and has only 15 no-huddle plays in the last three games. One reason for that has been to keep things simple for rookie receiver Martavis Bryant, who has five touchdown catches in three games,. Another reason is Roethlisberger has been masterful executing what plays offensive coordinator Todd Haley has called.

“Coach Haley’s goal is to be the top offense in the league,” Foster said. “That’s points, that’s yards, overall everything. That’s what we’re striving for. Our offensive goal is to beat their offensive team, as if we’re playing them. That’s our No. 1 goal. We’ve just got to continue to be a team on the rise and not be lax in development.”

With 11 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has 11 consecutive games with 80 or more receiving yards, breaking the previous NFL record of 10 shared by David Boston and Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch. … Bryant’s five touchdown catches matches former Steelers tight end Eric Green’s NFL record for the most in the first three games of a player’s career. Green had five TD receptions in his first two games in 1990 before being held scoreless in his third game. … With two sacks Sunday, Steelers linebacker James Harrison moved past Joe Greene (66) into third place on the Steelers’ all-time list with 68.