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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Allison Koehler

Is Ben Roethlisberger trying to fire up Steelers with his NFL wild-card pick?

When Ben Roethlisberger, a Pittsburgh Steelers legend and future Hall of Famer, picked the Baltimore Ravens to beat his former team in tomorrow’s NFL wild-card playoff game, fans were left scratching their heads. Could Big Ben really be betting against his beloved team? Or is this a clever tactic to rally the Black and Gold faithful and light a fire under Mike Tomlin’s squad?

Steelers fans know how much Roethlisberger bleeds Pittsburgh. With 18 seasons as the face of the franchise, he’s no stranger to the Ravens-Steelers rivalry. While some might see his pick as a slight, others recognize it as classic reverse psychology. If anyone knows what fuels this Steelers team, it’s Big Ben.

Whether it’s a genuine pick or a motivational ploy, Steelers Nation can only hope Roethlisberger’s words inspire his former teammates to silence their critics.

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