A contrite and subdued Ben Roethlisberger, in a recent interview, said he lost what his true identity was and wasn’t prepared for the amount of fame he received after he helped lead the Steelers at 23 years old to winning the first Super Bowl out of two with Pittsburgh. In Roethlisberger’s first detailed interview since the NFL suspended him, the 28 year old Roethlisberger told two TV stations in Pittsburgh that he wanted to apologize for his inappropriate behavior. Roethlisberger said to WTAE-TV, to Steelers fans there are so many things I want to apologize for. For being young, for being dumb, for being immature. I know, in my heart, I have not been the very best person I could be.

Somewhere buried towards the end of the column in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on the suspension of Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers quarterback, was a prediction that was straightforward. The prediction was that Roethlisberger would be replaced by Bryon Leftwich during his ban of 4 to 6 games. Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette wrote that it’s obvious that Byron Leftwich will be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback to open the season. Leftwich has an edge on Dennis Dixon, his competitor, in terms of arm strength and experience. In addition Byron took most of the OTA first reps before Big Ben was reinstated to the offseason workouts.

When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers there really isn’t anything Super about them anymore. The defending Super Bowl champs lost their fifth game in a row, and their playoff hopes were thrown for a loop by the struggling Cleveland Browns. With their defeat of Pittsburgh 13-6 on Thursday night facing wind chills at subzero temperatures, Cleveland snapped a 12 game losing streak versus the rival Steelers.

The Super Bowl Champs are losing their self confidence just as fast as they are losing leads and games. Meanwhile, the Raiders are suddenly winning with surprise finishes and remarkable comebacks just like the old days. With nine seconds left to go in the game Louis Murphy caught a touchdown pass of 11 yards from Bruce Gradkowski, his second score during the last 5 ½ minutes of the games, as Oakland scored three touchdowns late in the game to stun the Steelers on Sunday 27-24 and hand Pittsburgh their fourth loss in a row.

In one of the fiercest rivalries over the last ten years featuring some of the NFL’s most notable players, it was a few backup players that made their marks in very memorable fashion.

Dennis Dixon, third string quarterback, can be added to the list of notable Steelers that already includes Troy Polamalu, Plaxico Burress, Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward. Paul Kruger can be welcomed to the club that includes Shannon Sharpe, Tony Siragusa, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. With 6:42 left to play during overtime, Kruger intercepted a pass from Dixon to set up Billy Cundiff’s field goal of 29 yards to give Baltimore a 20-17 victory on Sunday night over Pittsburgh.

When the very last player to be taken in the 2009 draft came out onto the field, 2008’s best team was doomed. On Sunday, just a few minutes following Ben Roethlisberger wobbling off the field due to a possible concussion, a field goal of 22 yards was kicked by Ryan Succop with 8:28 left to play in overtime, as Kansas City snapped a 10 home game losing streak, with a 27-24 win over a stunned Pittsburgh team.

It might not have been a concession speech, but it did sound like one. For a majority of the past twenty seasons the Bengals have been chasing the Steelers. It’s now turned around. It’s Pittsburgh this time that realizes it’s an uphill battle. It’s clear they are the division’s best team, said Steelers safety Ryan Clark on Sunday after Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh 18-12 and took control of their division, the AFC North. I would give up my left arm just to get a chance to play them one more time.

Minnesota wasn’t able to get half a yard at a time when it could have turned things around. Then they watched the big play defense of the Steelers end the Vikings undefeated season with their two long returns for touchdowns during the last 6 ½ minutes of the game. The fumble return of 77 yards by LaMarr Woodley and the 82 interception return by Keyaron Fox on Favre turnovers allowed Pittsburgh to turn the Vikings repeated comeback attempts back, as the Steelers were able to ride three critical defensive stands on Sunday to give them a very important 27-17 win.

No matter how it’s measured, Cleveland can not beat Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger passed for two touchdowns in a Steelers offense that is increasingly wide open, as Pittsburgh got the benefit from a questionable first down measurement and defeated their rival Cleveland on Sunday 27-14. It was their 12th win in a row against the Browns, their oldest rival in the league.