The questions as to whether or not Ben Roethlisberger still has it or not have been answered. Whether or not he can solve the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, however, is what remains to be seen.
Every time a new defense emerges to jump to the top of the NFL rankings, the historical comparisons soon follow.
So it has been with the defense of the upstart Jaguars. The young Jacksonville defense — only defensive end Calais Campbell and middle linebacker Paul Posluszny are over 30 — has been been tabbed with the nickname “Sacksonville,” even though the Jaguars finished with 55 sacks, one fewer than the league-leading Steelers this season.
They also ranked second in the NFL this season in total and scoring defense behind Minnesota, but that hasn't stopped many from declaring Jacksonville the NFL's top defense.
They certainly have the swagger of one.
"Be careful what you wish for,” Pro Bowl cornerback A.J. Bouye told reporters earlier this week when told Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said last week he wanted a rematch with the Jaguars. “This is what he wanted, so this is what he is going to get.”
Fellow Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey was a little more blunt.
"I would want to play us again, too, if I were him," Ramsey told reporters. "We had five picks. I think after the game he was contemplating retirement."
Jacksonville picked off Roethlisberger five times in a 30-9 win at Heinz Field Oct. 8, returning two of those interceptions for touchdowns. They were two of seven defensive touchdowns the Jaguars had this season. The Jaguars and Eagles tied for the league lead with five fumble returns for touchdowns.
Ramsey's statement wasn't hyperbole.
Roethlisberger did say sarcastically after that game, "Maybe I just don't have it any more."
Roethlisberger has since proven that most certainly is not the case. In the 10 games he's played since throwing the five interceptions against the Jaguars, he has averaged 298 yards per game with 20 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions, leading the Steelers to a 9-1 record.
He'll ride that streak into Sunday's AFC Divisional Playoff game rematch against Jacksonville at Heinz Field against the Jaguars' top-rated pass defense.
Roethlisberger wasn't in the mood to fire back at the Jacksonville secondary Wednesday.
"For these guys, it is never easy, (They are) the best defense in the league for a reason," Roethlisberger said.
It was a far cry different than the tune the Steelers quarterback was singing last week, when he said on his weekly call to 93.7 The Fan, "I think just for me personally, I’d love to just prove that five interceptions wasn’t me in that game.”
That is likely more in line with his true thoughts on this game.
But, as a veteran with 20 playoff games, including three Super Bowls, under his belt, he also knows that every postseason game is special, regardless of the opponent.
"I’ll play anyone in the postseason," Roethlisberger said when asked if he had any extra motivation to play the Jaguars. "Just to have an opportunity to get here is what it should mean to everybody and how special it is. So, I am sure everyone is excited."
Excited? Yes. Looking forward to the task at hand, however, might be a different thing altogether, especially for the offense against a difficult opponent.
The Jaguars, or at least head coach Doug Marrone, aren't expecting Roethlisberger to be suffering any lingering effects from that five-interception game.
"He's too good of a player for it to be in his head. I've seen him for too long to really think that that's going to get to him. For our players, we understand that it's different. That was Week 5 of the season. A lot has gone by from then. This is a one-game elimination and a Divisional Playoff game. I think we're taking more of that approach than we've been there and done that. We understand that it's going to be a hard-core, 15-round battle."
The Jaguars have held seven opponents under 10 points this season, including a 10-3 win over Buffalo last Sunday in the opening round of the AFC playoffs. The Steelers and Roethlisberger were one of those teams, despite gaining 371 yards in that game.
Five turnovers, no matter how they come, can end your season in a hurry in the playoffs.
Roethlisberger is intent on not having that happen again and spurring any more talk of his retirement, something he started last year when he openly mentioned the possibility in the aftermath of the Steelers' loss in the AFC Championship at New England.
At 35 and with 14 NFL seasons now under his belt, he knows each trip into the postseason could be his last -- even if he doesn't decide to retire after this season. You can bet, however, he's not forgetting what happened before or the Jaguars trying to play mind games with him.
"You have to treat every game like it could be your last because you never know when it is," Roethlisberger said. "We saw an example of that, obviously, earlier in the season with Ryan [Shazier]. You just never know when it could be your last. Hoping it is not his last but you have to go out and play every play, enjoy every play and every game like it could be your last.
"I am not thinking about (retirement) right now. I don’t think it is my last, but I am not thinking that right now. I am going out to play this one and give it everything I have."
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers practice, UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Jan. 10, 2018. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS