Roethlisberger looked good on final FG drive

His practice in August paid off on a December night in Jacksonville.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Maybe it's appropriate a guy nicknamed Big Ben would be so good while on the clock.
One of Ben Roethlisberger's first practices shortly after signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers was devoted mostly to the two-minute drill. Roethlisberger threw incomplete on his first attempt, but didn't miss any other receivers during a drill coach Bill Cowher considers as important as any the Steelers practice.
When it counted Sunday night in Jacksonville, and the Steelers (11-1) needed their rookie to take them down the field in a hurry and keep their long winning streak going, he was just as good as on that warm August day in training camp.
Roethlisberger had led three fourth-quarter comebacks during the Steelers' 10-game winning streak, the second longest in franchise history to their 11-game run in 1975. But Sunday's 17-16 victory marked the first time he needed to drive them more than a short distance late in a game to win.
"He stepped in on that last drive and made three big throws," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "He's going to continue to grow and get better and better. He did a tremendous job on that two-minute drive."
Clock management
The Steelers, trailing 16-14, got the ball at their 25 with 1:50 remaining, but only because Cowher burned all three timeouts during the Jacksonville drive leading to Josh Scobee's 36-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining.
"We had to give the offense a chance," Cowher said. "It was imperative we stop the clock."
Roethlisberger, operating from a shotgun formation, completed three consecutive passes, two to backup receiver Lee Mays, ahead of Jeff Reed's 37-yard field goal with 18 seconds remaining.
"My job's easy at that point -- I've just got to deliver the ball," Roethlisberger said. "It's a great situation to be in, not just for me but for this offense."
Roethlisberger's skillful final drive also was important because it was the first time since a 24-20 victory at Dallas on Oct. 17 the Steelers relied mostly on their rookie to win a game.
Confidence boost
An ever-increasing reliance on the running game caused Cowher to nudge Roethlisberger last week by saying the Steelers needed more out of their passing attack. They got it as Roethlisberger went 14-of-17 for 221 yards and two touchdowns, his first game of 200 yards or more in seven weeks.
The victory kept Pittsburgh ahead of New England (11-1) in the race for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs going into Sunday's home game against the Jets (9-3).
"It was a big confidence booster for this whole team," Roethlisberger said.