Oct 29, 2005 By Alan Robinson Ap Sports Writer 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – Ben Roethlisberger has started only one regular-season loss in his brief career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite his 17-1 record – the defeat came last month against New England – Roethlisberger knows what it’s like to lose to the Baltimore Ravens.

He made his NFL debut in Baltimore on Sept. 19, 2004, replacing injured Tommy Maddox with the Steelers down 20-0. Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes and had two interceptions while completing 12 of 20 passes for 176 yards in a 30-13 defeat.

The Steelers never lost again until the AFC title game against New England. And Roethlisberger didn’t play in another regular-season loss until the 23-20 defeat Sept. 25 to the Patriots.

While it’s been only 13 months, Roethlisberger said that first Baltimore game seems like it was years ago.

Asked what he was thinking when he replaced Maddox, Roethlisberger said, “I don’t remember. Probably, try not to get hurt or intercepted.

“It was tough because you’re going against Ray Lewis, a guy notorious for talking trash and just being a great defensive player. I think I was just so confused I didn’t know what was going on.”

Roethlisberger won’t have to worry about Lewis, the 2003 NFL defensive player of the year, or safety Ed Reed, who won the award last year, on Monday night when the Ravens (2-4) and Steelers (4-2) play the first of their two games in the next month.

The rivalry between the only two teams to win the AFC North since it was formed in 2001 has cooled a bit with the Ravens below .500 and in danger of falling out of the division race, and with the oft-caustic Lewis sidelined with a thigh injury.

But Roethlisberger said a team desperate to win can be very dangerous, and the Ravens have more than enough talent left to give the Steelers plenty of problems. The Ravens have allowed the second-fewest yards in the league.

“Any time you’re missing the defensive player of the year and then Ray Lewis, you’re probably not at your strength,” Roethlisberger said. “But we know they’re going to be tough.

Count wide receiver Hines Ward among those glad Lewis isn’t playing. Ward said any defense missing him can’t be as good as it would be with him.

“They’re kind of backed up against the wall because they are 2-4 and they can’t afford to fall another game behind Cincinnati,” Ward said. “There’s going to be a lot of hitting going on, a lot of trash talking and this is one of those games both teams look forward to playing.”

With Reed out, the Steelers might be tempted to go downfield more than they did in a 27-13 win Sunday over Cincinnati (5-2), when Roethlisberger threw only 14 passes. The Steelers ran for 221 of their 304 yards, with Willie Parker getting 131 in his first 100-yard game since Sept. 18 in Houston.

“As a quarterback you always want to throw the ball, but I’ll throw the ball one time a game if we keep winning,” Roethlisberger said. “It doesn’t matter to me as long as we win football games.”

In two games against the Ravens last season, including a 20-7 victory on Dec. 26, Roethlisberger was 26-of-39 for 397 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

“He wins games, but he has a lot of talent around him,” the Ravens’ Tommy Polley said. “They don’t open it up like Peyton Manning. They control the ball. They run the ball. He tries to make plays on the run.

“The guy has a great record and great talent, but there’s a lot that goes into what he does.”