Pittsburgh Steelers Rumors: Big Ben to Upset Undefeated Bengals in Week 8?

The Pittsburgh Steelers could be the team to upset the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals if Ben Roethlisberger is healthy enough to play.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that Big Ben was very "close" to starting the Kansas City Chiefs game, which the Steelers lost 23-13. Tomlin ended up starting Landry Jones, the team's No. 3 quarterback. Roethlisberger sustained a sprained knee and bruised leg in the third quarter of the game against the St. Louis Rams.

"In the end, we decided to go with the guys that had the practice reps," Tomlin said in a post-game interview. "That was the appropriate thing to do. No second-guessing there, we'll move forward with Ben as we prepare for this week."

Although Tomlin is optimistic that Roethlisberger could start this Sunday, he noted that his No. 1 quarterback would still need to go through a week of practice to see how his knee holds up.

"I don't know what the reaction to next week's work is going to mean to him," Tomlin said. "So I say that with the understanding that how his knee reacts to the work we give him could play into it."

Roethlisberger's teammates are more than ready to have their leader back on the field.

"It would be a huge boost for us, not just offensively, but from a morale standpoint for the team," linebacker Arthur Moats said. "You know the type of talent he brings and what he's capable of doing. I feel like when he's healthy and ready to go he's going to be out there."

Guard Ramon Foster said in regards to the upcoming game against the Bengals, "It will be one of those things where we let Ben be Ben. We can't act like it's a grand celebration. He is going to be a guy who just does his job. We know how he operates. You miss the guy when he is out, and when he is back we will roll."

With Roethlisberger in control of the offense, the Steelers were the third best team in the league with almost 300 yards passing per game. Without him, however, the Steelers dropped to third worst with about 200 yards passing per game.

The Steelers play the Bengals on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET.