Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger According to team sources, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not be in the line-up for Sunday night's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Roethlisberger and the Steelers' medical staff have decided to sit him because of the concussion he suffered in last Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He will be the third quarterback on the depth chart.

Second-year pro Dennis Dixon will start for the defending champs, as back-up Charlie Batch was lost for the season with a broken left wrist he sustained in relief of Roethlisberger against the Chiefs.

Roethlisberger went through a normal week of preparation for this huge game against divisional rival Baltimore. The Steelers signal caller had every intention of playing,
however, the decision has been made for him to sit.

"It's part of the nature of the beast of playing this game. It's a violent, physical contact sport and there's a chance you're going to get hit," Roethlisberger said. "You guys don't talk about the bruises we have all over our body. If I showed you a bruise on my shoulder and a bruise on my shin, it wouldn't get talked about as much. It's a violent sport we play."

Normally there is so much emphasis on the defenses when these two face-off, this week, the play of the back-up quarterback could play a big role in which team reaches the postseason.

With the Cincinnati Bengals holding on to the AFC North Division lead, Pittsburgh at 6-4 and Baltimore at 5-5 could be getting set to slug it out for a wild-card spot in the post-season.