When the Oakland Raiders travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers Sunday, they won't face the same team that blew a fourth quarter lead and gave up an overtime interception to lose Sunday night.
They will face a team that actually has two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger playing quarterback.
"All indications are Ben (Roethlisberger) will be back,” Raider coach Tom Cable told the Contra Costa Times.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is on the same page, and maybe has the same speechwriter as Tom Cable too. "All indications are (Roethlisberger) will be a full participant and prepare and ultimately play in the game on Sunday," Tomlin told the Steelers' web site.
Roethlisberger is having a fine season, maintaining a career-best 68.9 completion percentage. The only complaints about Roethlisberger's game come from his own teammates.
When Roethlisberger took Sunday off with a concussion, receiver Hines Ward told Bob Costas, "I could see some players or teammates questioning, like, 'It's just a concussion. I've played with a concussion before.'"
The Raiders should look forward to giving Ward an opportunity to play with a concussion.
Sports
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who does not regret concussion wisecracks about the dirtiest player in the NFL.
