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Big Ben Has Big Night

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The Associated Press

Published: October 6, 2008

Updated: 10/06/2008 12:11 am

JACKSONVILLE - Big Ben's big night gave the Pittsburgh Steelers a big boost in the AFC North.
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Steelers overcome their offensive woes and leading them to a victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night.

Pittsburgh (4-1) snapped a four-game losing streak against Jacksonville and stretched its division lead against Baltimore (2-2), which lost to Tennessee earlier in the day.

Roethlisberger finished 26 of 41, rebounding from an interception on his third pass that Rashean Mathis returned 72 yards for a score. Roethlisberger's perfect 8-yard fade pass to Hines Ward in the corner of the end zone put the Steelers ahead 26-21 with 1:53 remaining.

Roethlisberger misfired on the 2-point conversion, but Pittsburgh's defense sealed the win by sacking David Garrard and then forcing two incomplete passes.

The Jaguars (2-3) blew a late lead for the fourth consecutive week. They rallied the last two games, getting winning field goals to beat Indianapolis and Houston.

No such luck this time around.

Roethlisberger and his team celebrated a win against Jacksonville for the first time since 2004.

The Jaguars won two close games in Pittsburgh last season, including 31-29 in the first round of the playoffs, and were favored in this one mostly because of the Steelers injuries.

They played without running backs Willie Parker (knee) and Rashard Mendenhall (shoulder), guard Kendall Simmons (Achilles' tendon) and defensive linemen Casey Hampton (groin) and Brett Keisel (calf).

And because Roethlisberger had been sacked 16 times in the first four games, the Jaguars expected to have a big day defensively against Big Ben.

After the Mathis pick, Roethlisberger led Pittsburgh to first-half scoring drives of 71, 59, 82 and 66 yards as the Steelers outgained the Jaguars 300-162 through three quarters.

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