Read More: Ben Roethlisberger (QB – PIT), Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 and they should have Ben Roethlisberger available. The Steelers QB missed Week 16 with a high ankle sprain but the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that he was a full participant in Friday’s practice and is expected to start against Cleveland.

That’s good news for the Steelers who still have something to play for. They’ve clinched a playoff spot but still have a shot at securing a division title, first round bye and even perhaps home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

If the Steelers beat the Browns, and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers would win the AFC North and receive the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. Without that No. 2 seed, they will be the fifth seed without a first round bye. The Steelers can even secure the No. 1 overall seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs if they win and both the Ravens and New England Patriots lose.

So the Steelers have plenty to play for, which means Roethlisberger will be out there. Previous reports indicated that they may get him just 25-30 snaps so he’s not rusty entering the playoffs.

If Roethlisberger can’t go, or comes out, Charlie Batch would replace him.

Check out SB Nation’s Behind The Steel Curtain for more on the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is saying that he is optimistic that Ben Roethlisberger will be able to start against the Cleveland Browns for the final week of the season. That noise you hear now is every Steelers fan letting out a resounding “why?”

It was debatable whether Roethlisberger should play against the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago but after the Ravens lost it made sense. After Roethlisberger looked terrible, looked injured and the 49ers defense destroyed him it made less sense to start him last week. Now after the Steelers won without Roethlisberger last week it seems to make no sense for Roethlisberger to start this week.

The Steelers have a chance to win the AFC North, which means a first round bye in the playoffs and the Steelers could even slip into the first seed overall and get home field throughout the playoffs. Obviously everybody would prefer to get the first round bye but not if it means risking Roethlisberger’s health and costing the Steelers a trip to the Super Bowl. The Steelers can go to the Super Bowl if they are the five seed. They can’t go to the Super Bowl if Roethlisberger is injured.

Benching Roethlisberger doesn’t guarantee that the Steelers give up the division either. Last week the Steelers not only won without Roethlisberger but they won by a score of 27-0. They did it the way that Pittsburgh traditionally wins, running and defense. Sure, their opponent was the St. Louis Rams who are currently in the running for the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. The Cleveland Browns aren’t exactly Super Bowl contenders either though.

The Browns are playing without their starting quarterback Colt McCoy-who has been out since suffering a concussion after a hit from James Harrison in the two teams’ last meeting-and their offense only ranks 29^th in the league. The Steelers’ defense also seems to step up when Roethlisberger doesn’t play. Last week the defense shut out the Rams and last season when Roethlisberger missed four games the defense only allowed 12.5 points per game against four teams that had a combined record of 41-23 by the end of the season.

The offense won’t be completely the same if Roethlisberger doesn’t play but it won’t be bad either. Cleveland’s defense ranks 10^th in the NFL but that is largely because of a pass defense that ranks 2^nd in the NFL. Cleveland’s rush defense is actually only 30^th in the NFL and not far off from the Rams defense that the Steelers ran all over last week.

The Steelers can beat the Browns even if Roethlisberger doesn’t play and then their fate lies in the hands of the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals game. The Bengals game will be much tougher for the Ravens. Besides the fact that the Ravens choke in big situations, you also have a Bengals team that will be pumped to hold on to their playoff spot. If the Bengals win they clinch only their third playoff spot in 20 years. The game is also in Cincinnati where the stadium has sold out for only the second time this year.

The Steelers should rest Roethlisberger one more week and it’s possible Pittsburgh still gets the first round bye. Even if the Ravens win and the Steelers are the fifth seed every Steelers fan has faith that Roethlisberger can navigate the Steelers through the playoffs one more time. Nobody has faith that Charlie Batch can do it if Roethlisberger plays and makes his ankle worse.

Sources:

Tomlin optimistic Roethlisberger could start at Cleveland, Chicago Tribune

The last several generations of Lee Andrew Henderson’s family were Pittsburgh born and even though he was born in Alabama he has been a long time fan of the Pirates, Steelers and Panthers. Lee Andrew Henderson can be found on Twitter at @LeeAHenderson

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Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot preview the Browns game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot to play for in Week 17. They are currently 11-4 and tied with the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North. Baltimore owns the tiebreaker but faces a tough Week 17 test against the Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile, the Steelers have a trip to face the Cleveland Browns. If the Steelers win and the Ravens lose, Pittsburgh will win the division and earn a bye. That’s not out of the realm of possibility. Pittsburgh could get a big boost if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is able to play.

Roethlisberger has been dealing with an injured ankle since the last time his team faced the Browns. That was all the way back on Thursday, December 8. Roethlisberger played in the following game against the San Francisco 49ers but was visibly limited. He sat out in Week 16 as his team drilled the lowly St. Louis Rams. Now, the hope is that his high ankle sprain is rested enough to allow him to play in the game. That could be a huge boost for a team hoping to win the division. Roethlisberger will be watched closely throughout the week but there is a real chance he can play. If that happens, beating the Browns should be no problem for the Steelers.

Roethlisberger has been pretty solid in the 2011 season. After a rough start he has bounced back to throw 21 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. Big Ben has struggled against elite defenses but Cleveland doesn’t really fit that bill. The Browns are in the midst of a disastrous 2011 season and would have a hard time winning this game no matter who was under center for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh might ultimately decide to rest Roethlisberger another week if he is still hobbled. Their playoff spot is secure and Pittsburgh has been able to win on the road in the playoffs before. If it is in the best interest of the team to not risk Roethlisberger’s health, they won’t do it. Pittsburgh knows it is good enough to be successful in the playoffs on the road as well as at home. If Big Ben can play, he will. But if he is still sore, I expect the Steelers will rest him.

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