Updated: January 1, 2026
- Bovada favors Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger to lead the NFL in passing yardage
- Roethlisberger holds a 4,842-4,816 edge over Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes
- Roethlisberger and New Orleans' Drew Brees shared the NFL passing yardage lead in 2014
What do Ben Roethlisberger and Jim Finks have in common?
They are the only Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks to lead the NFL in passing yardage.
Finks topped the league in 1955, passing for 2,270 yards. Roethlisberger's 2014 title comes with an asterisk, since he shared the crown with Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. Both passed for 4,952 yards.
Terry Bradshaw, another legendary Steelers quarterback, was known for his key role in the team’s success during the 1970s. Though he didn't lead the league in passing yardage, Bradshaw's leadership and passing skills helped the Steelers win four Super Bowl titles. This success laid the foundation for the passing excellence seen today in Roethlisberger’s performance.
Bovada thinks this is the year that the bell tolls for Big Ben to be all on his own atop the NFL passing yardage charts.
He enters the final week of the NFL regular season holding a 26-yard advantage over Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, and the sportsbook believes that when all is said and done with Week 17, Roethlisberger will still be the one atop the heap.
Odds to Lead NFL in Passing Yards in 2018 Season
| Team | Odds to Leads NFL in Passing Yards in 2018 Regular Season at Bovada |
|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | -130 |
| Patrick Mahomes | -110 |
*Odds taken 12/27
No Chiefs QB has ever led the NFL in passing yardage.
Looking back a month ago, either of these two could have been had at +210 as they trailed Matt Ryan.
Season On Line for Big Ben's Steelers
In last week's 31-28 loss to the Saints, Roethlisberger threw for 380 yards, which was his highest total in five weeks, as were his completions (33) and pass attempts (50).
The Steelers must win on Sunday and get some help in order to make the playoffs.
Ben Roethlisberger on playoff chances: “Nothing else matters” if Steelers don’t take care of business Sunday against Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/UlYu2CPuLF
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 27, 2018
The loss of running back James Conner to an ankle injury in Pittsburgh's Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers certainly forced Roethlisberger to put the ball in the air with more frequency.
Statistical Analysis of Late Season Games
Late-season games often see top performances from quarterbacks as teams vie for playoff spots.
Roethlisberger is known for stepping up under pressure. In past Decembers, his stats often showed an upward trend.
The fierce competition demands precision, and both Roethlisberger and Mahomes know how to deliver when it counts. This final week will be a deciding moment for both players.
But Conner is expected to play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, which could impact how often the Steelers pass the football. On the other hand, a more-balanced offense could also open up the passing game.
Players like JuJu Smith-Schuster greatly impact a quarterback's success through their outstanding play-making abilities.
In 2018, Smith-Schuster emerged as a top receiver, complementing Roethlisberger's passing game. The synergy between a quarterback and receivers can significantly tilt games in their favor, proving to be game-changing in important moments.
Record-Setting Roethlisberger
Roethlisberger needs 111 yards to surpass his 2014 franchise-record total of 4,952 yards. He's already established a new Steelers mark with 33 touchdown passes.
Ben Roethlisberger has set a single-season franchise record for the most touchdown passes with 33 in 2018. #BensDay pic.twitter.com/UsMSU75d5O
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 26, 2018
He's also just 158 yards away from becoming the sixth QB in NFL history to pass for 5,000 yards in a single season.
Ben Roethlisberger vs Patrick Mahomes
| 4,842 | Passing Yards | 4,816 |
| 299.0 | Average passing yards last 3 games | 297.6 |
| Bengals (275.7) | Passing yards allowed per game by Week 17 opponent | Raiders (236.2) |
The Bengals, in 2018, allowed an average of 275.7 passing yards per game, marking them as one of the poorer defenses.
Meanwhile, the Raiders allowed slightly fewer yards per game at 236.2. This contrast suggests Roethlisberger faces a more favorable matchup, potentially allowing him to expand his lead over Mahomes in passing yardage.
No one need tell the Steelers the kind of impact Mahomes has made on the NFL in this, his first season as a starter. In Week 2, a 42-37 win at Pittsburgh, Mahomes passed for 326 yards and six TDs.
Mahomes topped 300 yards in eight of his first nine games, but since a 478-yard, six-TD performance against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11, he's passed for 300 yards once in the last four games.
Roethlisberger went over 300 yards last week for the first time in four weeks, and he's topped 300 yards just once in Pittsburgh's last five victories.
But the Steelers absolutely must win on Sunday, so you know that they will pull out all the stops, which certainly favors Big Ben in this battle.
The post Ben Roethlisberger, not Patrick Mahomes, Favored to Lead NFL in Passing Yards appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
Original source: https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/nfl/ben-roethlisberger-not-mahomes-favored-lead-passing-yards/
