Win and Scare for Steelers

Just like their previous game, the Baltimore Ravens put a Steeler quarterback out with an injury. They accomplished little else on a day the Steelers made certain they won’t leave Pittsburgh until the Super Bowl if they keep winning.

Still-unbeaten Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes in a run-heavy offense before being pulled from a 20-7 Steeler victory Sunday with an unspecified rib injury caused by a blindside hit on a scoring pass.

Pittsburgh (14-1) wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye. But a team already playing without six injured regulars sustained two more injuries, as Roethlisberger and cornerback Deshea Townsend (broken right hand) left during the fourth quarter.

“We have a lot of guys hurt right now, but now we control our own destiny,” wide receiver Hines Ward said. “Now teams are going to have to come in and deal with the weather, the field and our fans. You couldn’t ask for a better situation.”

Except to be healthier.

Roethlisberger was assisted off the field, a large clump of grass sticking out of the left side of his face mask, after being leveled by Terrell Suggs on a two-yard touchdown pass to Jerame Tuman. Suggs was penalized for roughing the passer, but the play did not touch off any incidents.

Roethlisberger, who wears a protective jacket around his ribs like many NFL quarterbacks do, returned to complete throws of 26 yards to Plaxico Burress and nine to Jerome Bettis on Pittsburgh’s next drive early in the fourth quarter.

But he was replaced by Tommy Maddox midway through the drive because, Coach Bill Cowher said, “He grimaced every time he threw it.”

Roethlisberger’s injury was the lone worrisome note for the Steelers as they ran their franchise-record winning streak to 13 games.

“You don’t like to lose, especially in this environment, in what pretty much is a playoff game for us,” quarterback Kyle Boller said of the Ravens (8-7), the only team to beat Pittsburgh this season.

Roethlisberger (14 for 19, 211 yards, one interception) probably won’t play next Sunday in Buffalo, but none of his teammates seemed overly concerned. Roethlisberger did not speak to reporters.

“Ben’s a tough guy, and I’m not worried at all about Ben,” Bettis said. “He wanted to keep going. He’s a competitor.”

Coincidentally, Roethlisberger became Pittsburgh’s starter when Maddox hurt his right elbow Sept. 19 against the Ravens. Maddox did not play again until Sunday.

Bettis ran for 117 yards in his sixth 100-yard game this season. He moved past Eric Dickerson to fourth on the NFL career rushing list with 13,294 yards.