The Pittsburgh Steelers were expected to take control of their Monday Night matchup against the struggling Kansas City Chiefs. At the end of regulation the Steelers and Chiefs were all tied up. Only after a venture into overtime were the Steelers able to come out on top. Even with the win, week ten proved to be much more costly for the Steelers than anyone could have anticipated.

In the third quarter of the game, Ben Roethlisberger suffered what is being described as “a rare and dangerous injury”. After being sacked by two Kansas City linemen, Roethlisberger left the field favoring his right shoulder. At the time, this injury looked to be no more serious than any of his others. As the game concluded and the week went by,however, the Steelers organization and fanbase received some bad news. In addition to having a sprained right shoulder, Roethlisberger also suffered what is being called a dislocated rib.

If you are unsure exactly what having a dislocated rib means, you are not the only one. There is no case study of this particular injury, making it mysterious as well as dangerous. Doctors believe that jostling of Roethlisberger’s rib could result in a punctured aorta. The risk of this more serious injury is obviously enough to keep Roethlisberger on the bench for as long as necessary. There is currently no timetable set for his return, although he does not believe that this injury will end his season.

In the meantime, Byron Leftwich will take over at starting quarterback. The veteran backup relieved Roethlisberger in week ten, but is still looking for his first win as a starter in six years. Unfortunately for Leftwich, the vicious Baltimore Ravens are not likely to make his job any easier.  The Ravens defense, boasting 16 sacks on the season, will certainly set out to intimidate Leftwich. If they prove successful, week eleven could be one the Steelers hope to soon forget.

While there really is no good time for an injury to a star player, this is an especially bad time for the Steelers and Roethlisberger. The Black and Gold are within one game of the AFC leading Ravens. Pittsburgh and Baltimore will face off in two out of the next three weeks. Without a healthy quarterback, this is shaping up to be a tall order for the Steelers. The Steelers will have to give everything they’ve got if they hope to overcome the tenacious Ravens.

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Written by Jannah

Growing up in Pittsburgh with three older brothers, my passion for Steel City sports should come as no surprise. When Steeler game day rolls around, I can undoubtedly be found in front of the nearest television, terrible towel in hand, cheering on the Black and Gold. This has been the Sunday afternoon scene at my house for as long as I can remember. A love for Pittsburgh and its sports teams has been such an integral part of me that it seems only natural to pursue a career in sports journalism. I am currently working on my bachelor’s degree in communications at Robert Morris University in hopes of making that happen. My Pittsburgh pride doesn’t stop with the Steelers. I am an avid Penguins fan who is also a regular at Primanti Brothers. On non-game days, I enjoy spending time cooking, baking, and shopping for shoes.

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