Injuries are just the gift that keeps on giving with this 2016 Pittsburgh Steelers roster. Not only did DHB (and others) have to leave Sunday’s game against the Dolphins with cramps, but Ben Roethlisberger suffered a knee injury that may keep him out anywhere from 2-6 weeks, depending on the source you read, and the day.

After the game was over, news broke that Ben would need surgery the next day to repair the damage done to his meniscus. Some described it as a simple “trim” or “clean up” but the punchline is, Ben is reportedly out at least one week. Maybe more.

Can Steelers maintain “The Standard” without Ben?

I believe so.

Pittsburgh found themselves without their signal caller last season for 4 whole games, and managed to go 2-2.

That is not the only reason I am rather optimistic.

Despite this most recent embarrassing loss to Miami, The Steelers are still in first place in the AFC North. The North is very lackluster this year; an 11-5 or 10-6 record could very well win division.

The Browns might not win a single game all season (no joke).

The Bengals are a shell of what they were last year without Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Tyler Eifert on offense. (Eifert is still on the team, but has been injured all season.)

Baltimore continues to lack fire power on offense, with an injured Steve Smith Sr., and now a possibly injury to quarterback Joe Flacco (who has not been able to practice yet this week).

On top of those positives, Pittsburgh has a bye week after this upcoming Sunday’s game versus New England. That gives Roethlisberger an additional two weeks to rest before he would miss another game. If Ben must miss the game coming back off the bye (which many people, especially Pittsburgh fans doubt) the team is still supposed to be getting help from other players returning from injury: Cam Heyward, Marcus Gilbert, and possibly even Ladarius Green should be back. R

Reinforcements are on the way.

The team may even be lucky enough to see Ryan Shazier on Sunday, as he has been back at practice in full participation this week.

In the span of those 3 weeks just mentioned, possibly without Ben, is one divisional game. Week 9 is headlined by a matchup versus the Baltimore Ravens. (a.ka. public enemy number one.)

I would be pretty surprised if Big Ben missed that one, but even if he does, the Steelers always play the Ravens hard, and I think the team would be motivated to beat their rivals for Ben.

However I do believe that will prove to be irrelevant, because I expect to see him on the field after the bye. I may be blinding myself with optimism, but even Art Rooney II himself said that the “best-case” scenario would be a 2-3 week absence from #7. (Our own medical expert Terry Fletcher also feels that Ben could be on the field for the Ravens game, based on his procedure.)

In the meantime, the offense is Landry Jones‘ car to drive. I believe he can and will rise to the occasion.

There is very real concern in Pittsburgh that the team will struggle through this time without Big Ben, but I’m going to give Landry the chance to prove everyone wrong before I capsize the season due to a 2-3 week disappearance by Roethlisberger.

This year is far from over.

Trust me, I feel very confident in saying that many many Miami fans were worried about this past game versus Pittsburgh, and look how that turned out. No one is giving The Steelers a chance to win on Sunday, and maybe that doubt is just what this team needs to rally around Landry Jones, and play good football.