Browns 14, Steelers 26
Q. Any reaction from the crowd after the game?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: No.
Q. Did you get the game ball?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I don't -- no, coach didn't make an announcement or anything, but I'm sure it'll be in my locker.
Q. Would that be your favorite game ball?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Probably. I mean, probably. It's going to be up there, if not. It's special.
Q. Ben AFC North football, a scratch and claw kind of game, your kind of game, the kind of you won over the years. Going out there for victory formation, what's going through your head there?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Yeah, I didn't think I was going back out. Anybody in football will tell you when you're on offense that's the best play in football, best formation, best play. And so to go out there and take a knee probably made in even more emotional and more real.
Yeah, it wasn't pretty, but like I said out on the field, feels like that's been my style. Not pretty but finding a way to win. I think that's 92 wins here at Heinz Field, and that's what it's always been about for a me, is winning football games.
This is one more and it's very special.
Q. Did you end up on that same bench where you were last year by design or...
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I don't know if it's the same one. Just wanted to sit down and take it in. You know, just try and absorb every minute of this place because it's so special, the fans are so special. I wanted to win this game more than anything for them.
Obviously we still have a bigger -- we got another game. There is a slim chance, but got to keep fighting.
But this game was very special to me.
Q. Ben, coach said you talked to your teammates after the game. Can you share with us some things you may have said?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I told them thank you, how much this place and they mean to me. Just thank you.
Q. Aaron Rodgers said that he owned the Bears from his impressive record against them. Your record against Cleveland, how would you put in words? Do you own the Browns?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I'm just so blessed to play this game, you know, for a long time. Obviously being in the division you play the Browns a lot, play other guys.
You always want to beat the guys in your division, and so it's never easy either. It seems like this game is always physical and it's always tough.
To come out on top is all that really matters.
Q. Is that gesture Cam and Derek stepped back and let you go out to the coin toss by yourself, what did that mean to you?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Oh, I was mad at them. I wanted them to come out with me. You know, soon as I took a couple steps and I looked I knew what they were doing, so I gave them a little like, you guys...
But this team is very special. In the locker room afterwards, them on the field, just everything. That's why I love this place and this is home and these are my brothers and I'm so blessed.
Not just these guys, but all the guys that I've been blessed to play with over my years.
Q. What was that moment like with the family and the kids there at the tunnel as you walked out?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Pretty special having them here and understanding it and knowing what's going on. They're lucky they don't have to go to school tomorrow.
Q. Did it mean something to throw a touchdown pass in this game?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Yeah, I mean, it's always special to get that. But in your last one, to do something cool like that, yeah, it's neat. I appreciate those.
Q. Pride in Najee's performance and his growth through the season. Was this kind of a coming out for him, so to speak?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Man, I'm so proud. He was still sitting there when I came over here and I just told him thank you. I said, I'm so proud of you.
He's a tech heck of a football player. Tonight it's like he ran possessed tonight. Some of the things he did was just special, and he gave us this victory.
Q. Ben, he said very specifically he ran that way because it was that important to him that you go out with a win. TJ said it was important to him that everybody got your best performance. What does that mean and do they calm your emotions at all at the beginning?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: You know, it just tells you how special this group is and how much we mean to each other.
You know, I wanted to give they have everything, and I try to do that every week anyway; I think we all do. It was such a team performance tonight to watch the defense go out and do what they did, and the special teams. We had guys filling in and playing. JC playing center. Just everybody stepped up tonight. I don't know, just means the world to mean.
Q. You mentioned the fans. How do you describe what they did tonight and what they mean to you?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I don't know that I can. It's just this is home. You know, I was born in Ohio but I live here and I'll always be here.
These fans and this place means so much to me and my family and always will. I've always said they're the best fans in all of sports, and I'll stick by that to the day I die.
To see all the signs and jerseys and towels, and to hear them cheer for me coming out of the tunnel, all that stuff, I don't know that I'll ever put it into words.
I wish I could bottle it and have it forever. But I will in here and in my mind.
Q. Did you hearing the cheers throughout the game, Let's go, Ben, Thank you?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Yeah, I mean, you know, it's one of those ones where you're like, Okay, I appreciative it. Try and be quiet. We're trying to call some plays.
But like I said, it means a lot. This place, Heinz Field, is so special to me. You know, just like this city is. Even you guys for the most part. (Smiling.)
I'm very thankful and blessed to call this home, so thank you to all the fans and everybody.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports