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Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch looks for room to run in the fourth quarter against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Click photo for larger image. 
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Batch's first start in nearly four seasons resulted in a 20-10 Steelers victory against the Packers at Lambeau Field despite his abysmal passing statistics.
Batch was 9 of 16 for 65 yards, one interception and a 39.8 passer rating. But he impressed his coaching staff with his poise and will get another chance Sunday.
The Steelers want Ben Roethlisberger to rest his right knee one more week. He had surgery to remove part of a torn meniscus Thursday and the target date for his return is Nov. 20 in Baltimore. After convincing Roethlisberger to have the surgery, they do not want to rush him back too soon and risk damaging the knee again.
Batch threw an interception in Green Bay when he misread coverage and thought Hines Ward would run a shorter route than he did. He also fumbled a conventional snap from Jeff Hartings, but recovered it, and recovered a wayward snap in the shotgun. Had he fielded the first snap cleanly, he might have seen receiver Antwaan Randle El open deep for a touchdown.
It also was obvious that Batch's four years without playing had an effect on him and how he reacted to the speed of the defense. He was sacked only once but he scrambled eight times, squirming out of the pocket too soon on many of them. Once, he had tight end Heath Miller open but instead broke out of the pocket before his protection broke down.
His coaches, though, will consider his lack of playing time as a factor in some of that and will continue to play him over Tommy Maddox, demoted to third string after he started Oct. 16 for an injured Roethlisberger and kicked away an overtime loss to Jacksonville.
"He managed the game well," coach Bill Cowher said of Batch. "We didn't throw the ball for a whole lot of yardage, but I like to think he will get better, too. That was his first live action in a game, in a hostile environment.
"I think he will get some confidence after [Sunday]. But we have to be more efficient throwing it."
No one has been more efficient than Roethlisberger, who has led the league most of the season in passer rating and is still on top with a 112.4. He has thrown just two interceptions and his 9.1-yard average gain per pass is the highest in the NFL.
But his two veteran backups, who combined have 82 NFL regular-season starts and 17 seasons of NFL experience, have not thrown the ball well in their two games replacing him. Combined they are 20 of 44 for 219 yards, a touchdown, four interceptions and a dismal 30.4 passer rating.
"Sometimes, the same plays you run with Charlie, when you run them with Ben, Ben at times can take a play and it can look a lot different because he can improvise," Cowher said.
Roethlisberger's value has become even more evident with every game he misses. He has doused any idea he's merely out there to manage the offense.
"Not true, he's made too many big plays for us," offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said recently. "If you just look at the plays we've had over 20 yards -- if that's the measuring stick this year -- then you can't say that about him. That's not an accurate statement.
"He does manage the game very well for us in his second year because he does understand the offense. What he does now, he sees the field better and he's certainly a lot more confident in what we're doing.
"He's not asked to throw the ball very much because we've had success early in games this year and got up on opponents and used the running game to eat up the clock. It's not any fault of Ben's. It's just the system he's in. No, he's not out there not to lose the game."
And he won't be out there Sunday night against the Browns at Heinz Field, when Batch again will be charged not to lose the game.
