QB Ben Roethlisberger takes blame for Steelers collapse, sub-.500 record

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is tackled after a 4-yard scramble, by Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins, left, and defensive end Carlos Dunlap during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec 23, 2012. The Bengals won 13-10. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (The Associated Press)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) tries to get away from Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright) (The Associated Press)

PITTSBURGH – Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looks at his passing statistics, and they're not all that bad.

His passer rating is up from his career average, as well as his average passing yards per game.

The completion rate is where it has been over the course of an eight-year career.

Only once before has Roethlisberger thrown more touchdown passes per game or fewer interceptions per game.

But it's been Roethlisberger's play, by his own admission, that's a key factor in Pittsburgh (7-8) failing to make the playoffs for only the fourth time since 2001.

"A lot of it just has to do with me not playing well enough down the stretch," Roethlisberger said. "Fourth-quarter drives or last-minute throws, I'm just not making it happen, so my best answer would be that I just didn't play well enough."