Did Browns retire Ben Roethlisberger in playoff upset?

The Browns didn’t just beat Ben Roethlisberger, they may have retired him.

The Browns didn’t just erase almost two decades of demons by winning in Pittsburgh for the first time since 2003, they also beat Ben Roethlisberger for the first time in his home stadium–in an embarrassing fashion.

The two-time Super Bowl champ threw for over 501 yards and four touchdowns, but he also threw four interceptions! To get all those yards, he needed to throw the ball 68 times (47 completions). Ben’s stats are a result of playing from behind–way behind–in a fervent attempt to catch up with the punch in the face Cleveland delivered by taking a 28-0 first quarter lead.

The live-game coverage ended with Roethlisberger sitting on the sideline, as a close-up camera shot showed tears streaming down his face. You’ll have to excuse me for relishing in this sight, but as a Browns fans, you and I have seen countess games where the Steelers are beating the Browns so badly, that they spend most of the fourth quarter dancing on the sidelines, laughing and joking the night away.

It was the Browns turn on Jan. 10, though. The Steelers are going to have real problems contending in the division with their aging quarterback, who lost three of his last four regular-season starts before bowing out in the postseason.

As Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson are rising in their careers, there are serious questions as to whether Ben can rifle the ball for a downfield strike.

If you’re not going to take it from me, check out what Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Paul Zeise wrote.

"“It. Is. Over….And if it isn’t then the Steelers organization isn’t who we think they are. The Steelers will never win another Super Bowl with Roethlisberger being their starting quarterback. This was his last hurrah, their last best chance and the Steelers were never in the game against a crippled Browns team.”"

Since 2004, Ben’s served as a constant reminder of the dysfunction that’s plagued the Browns until recently. Cleveland coach Butch Davis bypassed the Ohio native in favor of Kellen Winslow and the Browns haven’t been able to keep up. The Steelers have picked up two Super Bowl trophies and numerous playoff berths in addition to Roethlisberger racking up Hall of Fame credentials.

Hopefully, Ben doesn’t retire. The Browns finally have his number and it’s time to dish some payback to the guy, who until recently, was the winningest quarterback at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium. Mayfield finally passed him with a win over the Colts back in October. Ben is now 23-3-1 vs the Browns.

So, will the teary eyed picture of Ben be the last image we see of him in uniform? It may come down to money, as he would take up $41.3 million worth of cap space in 2021. If Pittsburgh were to cut him, they’d be burdened with $22.5 million in dead cap.

The Steelers will have to make a decision soon, as Roethlisberger is due $15 million bonus come March.

As for the Browns, though, defeating Ben should be what catapults the Browns into a new era. The kind’s been knocked off the throne and it’s time to seize power in the AFC North.