Steelers exceed league's forecast

The Steelers have been encouraged the most by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing much better than the rest of the NFL probably expected them to play. Playing better than perhaps even they themselves expected.
With a three-game winning streak and the AFC North lead, the Steelers (4-1) already have only two fewer victories than they had during last year's 6-10 season.
The offensive line has been very consistent, helping Duce Staley to three consecutive 100-yard games. The defense has forced nearly half as many turnovers as it did all last season, despite replacing three of its four secondary starters since this time a year ago.
But what encourages the Steelers the most as they begin perhaps their most difficult stretch of the season is that rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, as good as he's been, figures to only get better.
Big potential
Even if he has been good enough to win his first three NFL starts, one of only five such non-replacement rookie QBs to do so since the 1970 NFL merger, he figures only to get better.
He is good enough to have a 91.3 passer rating, far higher than might be expected so early in his career.
"It's only his first year, he's only started three games, but you can only imagine how good he is going to become," wide receiver Plaxico Burress said Monday. "He's just going out and making plays."
He's making enough of them -- and, at the same time, limiting his poor plays -- that it is clearly lifting the players around him.
For all the things the Steelers did well against Cleveland -- Staley's 117 yards rushing in fewer than three quarters, the zero sacks allowed by the offensive line, Hines Ward's one-handed catch -- Steelers center Jeff Hartings thought Roethlisberger's play-making was the key.
Broke free twice
Roethlisberger twice broke free from pressure to get the ball down-field to Burress on broken plays, once for a touchdown and another time to set up one. He also ran 6 yards for a touchdown only two plays after absorbing a big hit from the Browns' Orpheus Roye.
"All of us played well -- and it's not going to be like that every Sunday -- but, in my opinion what made the difference in the game was the quarterback making plays like that," Hartings said.
The Steelers will play Sunday at Dallas (2-2) then, after their bye week, meet New England (4-0) and Philadelphia (4-0) on consecutive weeks at home. They catch the Cowboys coming off a 26-10 loss at home to the Giants, then play two of the NFL's best teams on consecutive weekends.
It's a stretch that could tell them how far they must go -- especially their rookie quarterback -- or, perhaps, how far they've already come.
Best for Burress
"We knew [before the season] we weren't going to get picked high, but this is the best team we've had since I've been here," said Burress, who was a second-year receiver when the Steelers went 13-3 during the 2001 season and played in the AFC championship game. "If you look at us offensively and defensively, we're pretty good and we can play even better."
Yes, even the QB who was supposed to be only No. 3 behind the injured Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch, perhaps not playing at all as a rookie.
"He's still making mistakes, but we're all just more comfortable and confident knowing he's going to call the right play formation-wise," Hartings said. "That gives him a chance to make plays with his athletic ability."
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