That goes for opposing passers as well as Ben Roethlisberger.

NFL Week 9

Week 9 action

Titans 19, Pack 16 (OT) -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, Rams 13 -- Recap | Box
Bears 27, Lions 23 -- Recap | Box
Bucs 30, Chiefs 27 (OT) -- Recap | Box
Jets 26, Bills 17 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 21, Jaguars 19 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 37, Browns 27 -- Recap | Box
Vikings 28, Texans 21 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 26, Broncos 17 -- Recap | Box
Giants 35, Cowboys 14 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 26, Seahawks 7 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 24, Raiders 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 18, Patriots 15 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 23, Redskins 6 -- Recap | Box


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Analysis

• Bradshaw: Titans-Giants Super Bowl?
• Marvez: Giants are NFL's best team
• Glazer: Jets rookie Gholston struggling

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Video

• Buck and Aikman on Cowboys-Giants
• Online OT: Complete NFL coverage

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Photos

• Week 9's best action
• Most injury-ravaged teams

A dominating defensive effort in Monday night's 23-6 road victory over Washington was tempered by a right (throwing) shoulder injury that sidelined Roethlisberger for the second half. Whether he will have to sit for Sunday's home game against Indianapolis — or longer — wasn't clear immediately after the game.

We do know that Roethlisberger aggravated a pre-existing injury on a touchdown run late in the first half. The Steelers declined to comment on a report during the game telecast claiming Roethlisberger told the training staff his shoulder "popped out" on the play.

On the bright side for the Steelers, Washington's starting quarterback didn't have it much better. While he was never knocked from the game, Pittsburgh sacked Jason Campbell seven times and ended his string of consecutive passes without an interception at 271. The NFL's top-ranked defense also held Clinton Portis — the league's leading rusher — to 51 yards on 13 carries.

"(Portis) didn't hurt us for the most part," said Steelers linebacker James Farrior, who was seemingly everywhere during a 13-tackle performance. "The next job was to get after the quarterback. I think we did that, too."

No kidding.

Blitz after blitz had Campbell — arguably the NFL's most improved player in 2008 under the tutelage of first-year coach Jim Zorn — looking like the mediocre thrower he was last season. Most damning, Washington (6-3) didn't convert a third down until five minutes remained in the third quarter. The Redskins could easily have gotten shut out if not handed excellent field position for field goals by a botched onside kick and a Roethlisberger interception in the game's first four minutes.

As much as he was trying to catch Washington off-guard on the opening kickoff, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said his surprise tactic showed how much faith he has in his defense.

"We don't fear being aggressive," Tomlin said.

Nor should he. But Tomlin should fear his quarterbacks going down and ruining Super Bowl aspirations for a championship-caliber defense.

Roethlisberger's incapacitation was inevitable with the punishment he has absorbed playing behind an offensive line that was leaky before ravaged by its own injury problems. Roethlisberger was sacked three more times by the Redskins, raising his 2008 total to 26 and a staggering 119 over the past 2 ½ seasons. The more blows he takes, the more obvious it becomes that Pittsburgh erred by not acquiring better pass blockers during the offseason.