On his popular “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast, Pittsburgh Steelers legend Roethlisberger ranked his top-performing quarterbacks from the 2024-25 NFL regular season, broke down Pittsburgh’s Wild Card matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, and offered his pick on who wins.
Big Ben’s answers may (or may not) surprise you.
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson Is Ben Roethlisberger’s Top-Ranked QB
Roethlisberger prefaced his top-seven list by clarifying that this list isn’t about the “best” quarterbacks in the league overall but rather those who played the best this year.
“This list is tricky because it’s this year. It’s not who I think is the best quarterback in the NFL. It’s ‘Who do I think played the best this year?'” Roethlisberger explained. His rankings considered factors beyond just stats — like leadership, winning games, and overcoming challenges.
Big Ben crowned Lamar Jackson as his top quarterback of the season, praising his ability to win with less. Jackson’s electrifying playmaking and leadership elevated the Ravens to new heights, showcasing why he’s one of the league’s most dynamic talents — and not just a running back, as NFL fans and pundits liked to say.
Nos. 2 through 7 belong to Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff, Minnesota Vikings’ Sam Darnold, and Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert.
Ben Roethlisberger's Top 7 QB rankings from the 2024-25 NFL regular season:
1. Lamar Jackson
2. Joe Burrow
3. Josh Allen
4. Patrick Mahomes
5. Jared Goff
6. Sam Darnold
7. Justin Herbert#RavensFlockvia Channel Seven/YT pic.twitter.com/A9gvrFv9Md
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) January 7, 2025
Roethlisberger Picks Ravens To Beat Steelers in Wild Card Playoffs Clash
When it comes to Steelers vs. Ravens, Roethlisberger knows the rivalry inside and out after facing Baltimore 27 times in his 18-year career (to the tune of a 17-10 record). Big Ben didn’t hold back on the playoff predictions segment of his Footbahlin podcast, confidently picking against his beloved Steelers in this weekend’s NFL Wild Card playoff showdown versus the red-hot Ravens.
“Sorry,” Roethlisberger said in a sorry-not-sorry tone, feeling he’d get some backlash from Steelers Nation.
Roethlisberger’s pick caused some uproar on social media, with one Ravens supporter saying fans don’t need his “fake love” and another calling it a “jinx.”
Ben Roethlisberger is taking the Ravens over the Steelers this Saturday
— The Ravens Realm (@RealmRavens) January 7, 2025
Roethlisberger Shares Unfiltered Thoughts on Steelers-Ravens Matchup
Roethlisberger shared some unfiltered thoughts about Pittsburgh’s forthcoming tussle with the Ravens. He’s not optimistic, but it’s hard to be. The Steelers are the worst-trending team heading into this weekend after closing out the regular season on an embarrassing four-game skid (albeit to three playoff teams and the resurgent Cincinnati Bengals).
“I didn’t want to go play Baltimore,” Roethlisberger said, pointing out the stark contrast between the two teams’ postseason momentum. Comparing this year’s Steelers squad to the 2005 team that went on to win the Super Bowl as a No. 6 seed, he said, “The difference is we snuck in, but we were trending in the right direction.”
This year, however, Roethlisberger sees how the Steelers have struggled. “This team has lost four in a row. They’re going in the wrong direction,” he said, contrasting that with Baltimore’s surge. “[Jackson] is ridiculous, and their defense — which was their Achilles heel — is playing good football.”
“We’re going into the postseason trending in the wrong direction.”
Big Ben may have triggered some ardent Steelers supporters, but there are no lies detected.
Ben Roethlisberger wants nothing to do with his Steelers matching up with Baltimore this weekend:
"That team's playing good football right now. Their quarterback is ridiculous. … They're going in trending the right direction. We're going to the postseason trending in the… pic.twitter.com/gAhZaFep6k
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) January 7, 2025