Ben Roethlisberger’s life features everything an NFL star could want. At 23, he became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl title when he helped Pittsburgh win it all in 2005. He has been linked to Hollywood starlets, and last March, he signed an eight-year contract worth $102 million.

Big Ben is living large in Steel City. So why is he so down about this season? When asked how he’s played, Roethlisberger said, “Um, OK. Just OK.”

The reality is that Roethlisberger’s career numbers are just OK. From 2004 to 2008, his completion percentage (.627) ranks 13th in the NFL. In the same period, he has thrown 97 touchdown passes – six quarterbacks have surpassed that – and he has the fourth-highest interception total (66).

With Roethlisberger, you ignore the stats and simply look at the bottom line – 48 wins, 19 losses as a starter. “He’s always managed the game and kept them alive,” Cowboys linebacker Bradie James said. “He’s always made that one big play when they needed it. That’s what makes him one of the better players in the league.”

Roethlisberger is having another lackluster season statistically. He has completed 60.6 percent of his passes and thrown for 13 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. But when you’re backed by the league’s No. 1-ranked defense, you don’t have to make spectacular plays. Routine plays are OK.

Last week’s win at New England was full of examples where Roethlisberger simply managed the game. He was 10-for-18 for a pedestrian 105 yards in the first half. But the Patriots turned the ball over in the third quarter on a kickoff. Two plays later, Roethlisberger fired a pass into double coverage for an 11-yard touchdown to Hines Ward.

After another New England turnover, Roethlisberger threw a 19-yard pass to Heath Miller that pushed the ball to the Patriots’ 7-yard line. The drive ended with a field goal. Two more turnovers led to 10 more points, and before the Patriots knew what happened, they were blown out at home, 33-10.

Roethlisberger finished the game 17-for-33 for 179 yards. His longest pass went for 21 yards. Still, it was a W. “Ben’s probably his toughest critic,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “For me, the issue is winning, and the quarterback position, particularly him, is central to that. “I think you can grade Ben the way you grade our football team. Right now, we’re 9-3 and we’re trying to be 10-3.”

Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware cautioned that Roethlisberger is tough to bring down. “He knows how to make guys miss him and get the ball down the field,” Ware said. “He’s a good quarterback.”

The statistics say otherwise. But the scoreboard doesn’t lie. At 9-3, the Steelers are one of the toughest teams in the AFC, whether Big Ben has big numbers or not. “I just feel like I’ve played OK football,” Roethlisberger said. “Not great, not up to my standards. But we’ve found ways to win, and that’s what’s important in this league.”

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