Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers News
PITTSBURGH, PA -DECEMBER 02: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks on during the NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 02, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger holds the record for the most wins by a rookie quarterback in NFL history (14). However, that record could soon be broken by another rookie in this year’s playoffs.
On Saturday, the Washington Commanders will take on the Detroit Lions in a highly-anticipated divisional round matchup. If rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels can pull off the upset on the road, he’ll tie Roethlisberger’s rookie win record.
Like Roethlisberger, Daniels has had an impressive rookie year. He led the Commanders to a 12-5 finish in the regular season and then went on the road to get a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
With that win, Daniels has now notched 13 wins this season. One more win will give him just as many as Roethlisberger had as a rookie in 2004. Two more, and the record will solely be his.
As a rookie, Roethlisberger went undefeated (13-0) in the regular season and was victorious in his first postseason game against the New York Jets in the divisional round of the playoffs. He and the Steelers eventually lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC title game, but it was a historic rookie year, nonetheless.
Daniels has the chance to make it just as far this week, but it won’t come easy against the No. 1 seed Lions.
Still, the former Heisman Trophy winner has proven to be the real deal this season as he’s thrown for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 891 yards and six touchdowns.
Jayden Daniels strikes the Heisman post | Photo by: Gus Stark
Daniels will have to earn his spot in history, just as Roethlisberger did back in 2004, but it’s not hard to imagine him doing just that on Saturday.
Steelers fans will surely be watching with the hopes of Roethlisberger’s rookie record staying intact, because if Daniels does pull off the upset, he could break Roethlisberger’s rookie record in the NFC Championship game.
Mentioned In This Article: Ben Roethlisberger Jayden Daniels Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers
