STEELERS Roethlisberger would like to play, but understands

He's never missed a game because of injury.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Ben Roethlisberger can't remember playing a football game without meaning. Thanks to a sore rib, he almost certainly won't play one Sunday in Buffalo.
Roethlisberger sat out the Steelers' practice Wednesday with bruised rib cartilage and, while he hasn't been officially ruled out, the rookie quarterback will do little more Sunday than stand along the sidelines wearing a white ski cap.
Thirteen-game winning streak or not, the Steelers (14-1) aren't about to risk further injury to their valuable rookie -- not with home-field advantage and a first-round bye already secured for the AFC playoffs.
Roethlisberger has never missed a game to injury during his high school, college or pro career, but understands the reasoning if he sits out despite his 13-0 record as a starter. Jerome Bettis (sprained ankle) also expects to sit despite needing only 59 yards for a 1,000-yard rushing season.
"Each way has its pros and cons," Roethlisberger said Wednesday.
"It's probably good to get your rest in, but you don't want to get rusty. So we're going to make sure that I go out there and stay mentally sharp and prepare myself, and just take it from there."
He will practice
Roethlisberger did some light throwing Wednesday and expects to get some more practice time this week to keep his timing sharp.
The rookie was hurt late in the third quarter of a 20-7 victory Sunday over Baltimore when linebacker Terrell Suggs slammed into him from behind just after Roethlisberger threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jerame Tuman.
Roethlisberger returned to complete two passes on the next possession, only to be pulled for former starter Tommy Maddox midway through the game-ending, 14-play drive. Maddox figures to start Sunday for the first time since injuring his right elbow Sept. 19 in Baltimore, with Brian St. Pierre as his backup.
Roethlisberger separated ribs while playing at Miami (Ohio), so there was some initial concern when he was hurt Sunday. Postgame tests showed no broken ribs or any other injury that might take weeks to heal.
"That's what we wanted to look at, to make sure it wasn't that," Roethlisberger said. "I think every football player has had some injury related to their ribs, and it's one of those things that, as a quarterback, you take a lot of hits in the ribs and midsection. It's just a thing that will get better."
Plans to be ready
Roethlisberger would prefer not to have what could be a three-week layoff before his first NFL playoff game Jan. 15 or 16, but understands the Steelers' reasoning if he does.
"I'm going to hit this thing hard, in the training room and out on the field, and whatever coach [Bill Cowher] decides he wants, I'll be ready," he said. "Whatever he decides is right for me and right for the team, I'll go with it."
If Roethlisberger doesn't play, he will have concluded a rookie season that isn't likely to be matched by another rookie quarterback in the near future.
Until this season, no rookie QB since the 1970 NFL merger had won more than six consecutive starts to begin his career or nine games in a season; Roethlisberger is 13-0. He also has completed a rookie-record 66.4 percent of his passes, compared to Dan Marino's 58.3 for Miami in 1983, and his passer rating of 98.1 tops Marino's 96.0.
Roethlisberger's average of 8.88 yards per pass attempt is the league's highest for a rookie quarterback since Greg Cook's 9.411 for the 1969 Bengals.