Texans 21, Steelers 28.
Q. Ben, you haven't started 3 and 0 a lot. It's been 10 years since you have. How important is it to get off to a start like that?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: It's huge for us, especially here at home. I said in the post game that there's no fans here but we still want to win at home, and we want to win it for the fans that we know are watching around the world.
So we still have the same mentality that when we're at home we want to win the football game. And, you know, so for us to get off to a good start like this is really important and it's fun.
Q. You guys were able to stay with the running game despite some early hiccups. You got a lot of guys involved and you seemed to get better as the game went on running the ball. Why was that and how did you feel about it?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Well, I think we threw some different looks. We went with some big package stuff, some counter runs some downhill runs. And then we were also able to supplement when they were crowding the box with kind of some quick hit throws. We call those run game alternatives.
So I'm just really proud the way guys stepped up. The drive after the interception, I don't know the numbers on it, how long it took or anything like that, but we drove down the field and this is three weeks in a row that our four minute offense -- I know it's outside of four minutes, but in essence you're driving and you need to run the ball out. So that's impressive when we get to do the best play in football, which is the victory three weeks in a row, that's an awesome feeling.
Q. RPO's, I'm curious is that a presnap read of yours? Why were they working and was that two point conversion one of those?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: The two point conversion was one. There is a presnap read element to it, but a lot of it has to happen after the ball is snapped as the guys slide. And sometimes I'll predetermine that I'm going to throw it. You know, I missed Ebron early on the one. I hate it because he was running wide open with the double, Diontae.
So there is some taking a chance every once in a while if you pull it out. I threw one to JuJu in the flat. I should have handed it off. Sometimes I don't make the right read or the right decision or it doesn't work out the way you want it to, but as long as we're making more of them than we don't, I think it's good.
Q. You just mentioned Eric Ebron getting him involved and getting him his first touchdown as a Steeler. What was working today to get the tight ends, especially Ebron more today?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: What a huge play, big day for him. And, you know, even the guys -- I always talk about the stats that show up or the catches, the yards, the TDs. His touchdown was an amazing play. We got pushed back after a grounding call and you're kind of just -- he's the one, I'm going to take a shot.
We did that exact same play in practice with the same look. He made the play in practice and he did it again. It's just developing trust with him. I got a huge third down late in the game.
But as I was saying the stats are one thing but what those two, both him and Vance did in the run game was spectacular. Asking them to get around, to lead things. Vance was like the fourth option on his conversion, I think on fourth down, whatever that one play was where he caught it.
They're just making plays. That's a really unselfish group. It's fun to be a part of.
Q. When you talked about the rhythm that you guys have started to establish here was this the best you have been in that regard as an offense and within that, how big were the third and short conversions?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: We did some really good things tonight. We still lacked in some areas, but -- I missed a couple of deep balls, overthrew a couple guys here and there, but I think what I was most proud of was the way that guys stepped up.
Diontae goes down and James Washington, JuJu, chase Claypool, basically have to play all three positions. They're bouncing around and we're moving them and doing things.
I told each one of them after the game how proud I was that those guys stepped up and did what they did because it wasn't easy to be in there shoes tonight.
Q. You have been and you are really critical of yourself through these first three weeks. So let's just talk about the footwork part. I know you worked extra on it Wednesday. How would you assess that and at what point are you going to cut yourself some slack and say, hey, we're good.
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Like I said, as long as we're winning it's okay that I'm still trying to get back into the flow of it. I felt the footwork was better. There was still a couple of throws that I didn't quite get my feet around, the one to Ebron was one. James Washington on a shallow the one I can think of off the top of my head.
So I'll let you know one of these weeks when I feel like I've played a good one.
Q. That touchdown drive ended up taking seven minutes. How important was it to score and eat that clock down so you can keep Watson on the sideline?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Huge. We need to give our defense a break. We talked about the first half, we didn't do that well enough, we didn't think. So they got the ball for us. Kind of one of those situations that it was gut check time. I kept telling the guys in the huddle because my guys were gassed. My linemen were so tired, but so were they. And we didn't want to slow down.
So I kept telling them, listen, this is gut check guys. Dig down and see what you got, what can you find, and they did it. They kept going. We kept running the ball and they kept opening holes and the backs kept plowing their way through.
So I can't talk enough about how proud I am with that group up front on that drive especially because that was not easy.
Q. What does 221 say the loudest to you about you in your career?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I'm old? I've played a lot of games and it's such an honor to be up there with that name with Mike Webster. Obviously, what he meant for this franchise, the Hall of Famer, the person, and we all know the story.
But what he did, you know, he was Iron Mike for a reason. They're never going to call me Iron Ben because there's only one Iron Mike.
And I'm just humbled and honored to be in the same category as him. It's not like I passed him. I just feel like I joined him today because it's so awesome. And really it's not me. It's all the guys that I played with, especially the linemen, because they're the ones blocking for me.
And I've played with so many really good linemen and tight ends and backs and guys that just really kept he upright and have allowed me to play this long. I'm thankful to all of them and this kind of record really is a joint thing for all of them and me.
Q. Earlier this wreak you talked about as an offense wanting to be there for your defense, wanting to be able to close out a game and not have to rely on them to make a stop at the end of the game. How important was what you guys were able to do today?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: It was huge. Kind of two drives right? The long one we talked about and then our defense gets them off the field. We get the ball back, and they some timeouts at the two minute and we get to stay on the field.
That's huge. We have all the faith in the world in our defense if we put them out there that they'll do what they have to do, but if we don't have to put them out there, we'll try not to.
Q. You mentioned the impact of guys up front. What did it mean to have DeCastro back on that offensive line?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: It was special. Kevin did a great job filling in. But, you know, Dave is special. Dave is one of the guys that makes this thing go. And I told him before the game just how happy I am to have him back. Not because he's a really good football player, but because he's a friend and really just means a lot to have him out there. So.
I'm glad he came out feeling good, and we got a win for him, and I'm just looking forward to moving forward with him up there.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports