Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery in the third quarter of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)t quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has thrown his 200th touchdown pass.
Roethlisberger is the second quarterback in Steelers history to reach the milestone. Terry Bradshaw is the other. He threw for 212 TDs from 1970-83.
Roethlisberger reached No. 200 when he found Antonio Brown in the end zone in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. Roethlisberger then connected three times with Jerricho Cotchery in the second half to give him 203.
That left Roethlisberger 32nd on the NFL’s career list, tied with Jim Everett.
BEN ROETHLISBERGER POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: You came back and tied it – you must have felt pretty good about things at that point?
BR: Yeah, we were doing some good things, but close isn’t good enough. We’ve got to continue to find ways to score and not get stopped in that situation.
Q: How good were you feeling when you had it at the 24 yard line?
BR: We were doing some good things. Everyone was fighting; offense, defense, special teams, and [we] found a way to tie it up. [We] just offensively couldn’t keep it going.
Q: What is the goal now at 2-6?
BR: Keep fighting. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. [I’m] proud of the way a lot of guys – lineman and lead guys – Mike Adams came in and guys stepped up and played – no one quit. We fought until the end.
Q: The franchise since you’ve been here has been known so much for its defense. Is it shocking to see that kind of thing happen?
BR: Yeah, it’s a great defense and you don’t typically see that, so it is a little shocking, but they’re a good offense. That’s the way it goes.
Q: Were you surprised to be out there 24 points down at the end?
BR: No, not at all. I wouldn’t have [sat out]. They would have had to drag me off. I’m not going to quit; I’m going to stay out there and fight until the end.
Q: In your opinion what is the biggest factor that you need to do to turn the season around?
BR: Win.
Q: What do you think got away from you at 24-24?
BR: We punted and to that point we had been doing pretty good on offense not punting and we had to punt there. We just couldn’t – it took us a second – I think we maybe punted twice maybe. Whatever, we just couldn’t keep it going
Q: What did Mike say?
BR: Mike?
Q: Mike Tomlin, sorry.
BR: You’ll have to ask him.
Q: Well, he said he was angry and that this is the most disappointed he has been – pretty much summarized it.
BR: I think we all are angry and disappointed, so that’s probably collectively what’s in this locker room.
Q: The second pick seemed to be a little confusion in the route?
BR: Yeah, you know what, I have to go look at it before I can really comment on it.
Q: The first one was just an ill-advised throw?
BR: No, I thought we took a shot and it was him going deep. They got a little pressure and I should have slid and kind of put more into it, but I threw it up to let him make a play and they came down with it.
Q: In your opinion did you see some interference on that play?
BR: The referees are out there calling stuff, so I’m not going to commend on their calls.
Q: What was it like watching the Patriots score 55 points? They have been struggling offensively all year. Now Rob Gronkowski is back and they are getting a little healthy offensively. What was it like watching their offense?
BR: Frustrating because that means we’re not on the field. They’re a good offense, but we need to score more points.
Q: Do you go into a game like this thinking you’re going to have to out-throw the other quarterback when you’re playing a high profile guy like that?
BR: I never look like it as playing the other quarterback, as much as you’re playing against their defense. [Tom Brady] is good, so you know that your mistakes have to be limited, minimal, turning the ball over, punting – things like that. We punted too much tonight and kicked too many field goals.
Q: You went over 400 yards and had four touchdowns and it ended up the way it ended up…
BR: Yeah, you guys know me well enough. I don’t really care. To me it’s about wins and losses and that’s what’s the most frustrating: is that we lost. And offensively we have to be better.
Q: Are you more perplexed than anything at how you’ve gotten to this point?
BR: It’s frustrating. We’re going to sit here in the locker room right after the game and dwell on this and we’ll evaluate tomorrow.
–Postgame Transcript compiled by Patriots Media Relations