PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger may have needed only game to push himself into the front row of contenders for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

Comeback? At age 25? Only 18 months removed from being the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl?

For sure, and Roethlisberger's NFL-leading 23 interceptions of a year ago are a reason why. So was the Steelers' 8-8 record. So was his stubbornness in repeatedly throwing into coverage, and in playing even when he knew an appendectomy, then a concussion, might limit his effectiveness.

Call it the education of a young quarterback, even one who was good enough to win 27 of his first 31 NFL starts. If Roethlisberger needed a letdown last season to remind himself it wasn't as easy as he made it look during his first two seasons, he got one.

"It was a bad year," he said.

This one is starting out much better. Roethlisberger was near flawless in leading the Steelers past the Browns 34-7 last Sunday, throwing a career-high four touchdown passes to four different receivers.

He was 12-of-23 for 161 yards in this opener — not great numbers, though they weren't needed given how quickly the Steelers were scoring.

What Roethlisberger likes is how the Steelers, already up 17-0, drove 71 yards in eight plays to start the second half with his 5-yard TD pass to rookie tight end Matt Spaeth.

"It was big for us," Roethlisberger said. "Coach (Dick) LeBeau (the defensive coordinator) came up to me when the game was almost over and said, 'Good drive. It really helps the defense a lot.' And it was good for us."