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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers had three offensive players voted to the Pro Bowl. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, receiver Antonio Brown and guard David DeCastro earned the honors. It's the fourth Pro Bowl for Roethlisberger and Brown and the first for DeCastro. Roethlisberger was honored despite missing four games with a knee injury early in the season.
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"It has to do with the guys around me," Roethlisberger said. "Typically you don't get those honors when you miss time, but because we have such a good group around me - receivers, tight ends, running backs and then the way the line has played - that's why I say it's an awesome individual honor. The whole offense is honored in our Pro Bowl selections."
When asked to describe the type of season Brown is having, Roethlisberger responded: "Unbelievable. Not surprising. I've used this a lot when talking to you guys. It surprises me more when he doesn't do something. I get asked, 'Does he surprise you when he gets all these yards or this many passes or this many touchdowns?' I'm more surprised when he doesn't do those things because he's so special. He's obviously a very deserving Pro Bowl player. All the accolades that come his way are deserved."
DeCastro, the team's first-round pick in 2012, has developed into one of the premier guards in the league.
"It's a great honor," DeCastro said. "It's a lot of respect from your teammates and guys around the league. It's a team award, too. You have guys around you who help you out, especially on the offensive line. It's more than just you. It really is."
--Opposing teams continue to target Steelers cornerback Antwon Blake. They continue to have success when they do it. But head coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers won't change their cornerback rotation and Blake is not in danger of losing his starting job.
Blake was in coverage on one of Denver's four first-half touchdowns. Brandon Boykin played more in the second half when the Steelers shut out the Broncos. Boykin played 65 percent of the team's defensive snaps. Blake and Ross Cockrell, who has been the nickel back most of the season, played 57 percent of the snaps.
"We're going to continue with the rotation that we have and it hasn't changed," Tomlin said. "Sometimes, the numbers may change in terms of the number of snaps over the course of a game, but I wouldn't read too much into that. Our rotation has been the same as it's been for the last three or four weeks now."
--The last time the Steelers played the Ravens their kicker missed two field goals in the fourth quarter, and the Steelers lost, 23-20, in overtime. The Steelers cut Josh Scobee two days later. But out of that disaster came the signing of Chris Boswell, who has been one of the best kickers in the league.
Boswell has only missed two kicks since becoming the kicker in October. He has made 26 of his 28 field-goal attempts.
"He's been very good and solid," Tomlin said. "For a young guy, he doesn't ride the emotional roller coaster. I like his game-day demeanor. We're starting to pick up now and be in some significant games and have some of those types of moments. From time to time, I'll make eye contact with him and check on him just to see how he's processing it all. He's a very level-headed and even-keeled young man. I think that's aided him in the manner in which he's delivered for us to this point."
