Ben Roethlisberger was named AFC player of the week, yet the biggest surprise is that it's only the second time he has won it in his four-year career.

He's also moving up in the Steelers' record books. He's second with 74 touchdown passes and is on pace to snap his passer-rating record. He has a 110.2 passer rating. His 98.6 rating in 2005 is the team's all-time best, and his 98.1 in 2004 ranks second.

"I honestly don't even know it until people bring it up," Roethlisberger said of the records and honors. "That's not something I've ever focused on. I focus on what the Steelers are doing. Obviously, I hope I can play here for many years, and that will take care of itself as time comes."

The AFC honored Roethlisberger for his performance in a 31-28 victory Sunday against Cleveland.

He completed 23 of 34 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a 30-yard score to rally the Steelers from a 21-6 deficit to victory.

Although coach Mike Tomlin said earlier that minor injuries might prevent Roethlisberger from practicing yesterday, he went through a full drill.

Record pace

The offense is on pace to score more points than any Steelers team in the franchise's 75-year history.

Their 253 points are the most they have scored through nine games. Their previous high was 252 in 1975.

That '75 team scored 373 points when the season was only 14 games. If this year's team maintains its 28.1 points per game average, it will be the highest average and the most points.

The top five Steelers scoring seasons and their average points per game: 416 points in 1979 (26.0), 407 points in '95 (25.4), 390 points in 2002 (24.4), 389 points in '05 (24.3) and 387 points in '84 (24.2).

A bright spot

While the Steelers' special teams have not performed well overall, their two kickers have. Jeff Reed has made 14 of 15 field-goal tries with just one miss from 65 yards in Denver.

Rookie punter Daniel Sepulveda is tied with three others for eighth in the league with a 38.5-yard net average. Half of Sepulveda's 38 punts have been downed or gone out of bounds inside the 20, and he has only two touchbacks.

Opponents, however, have had good punt returns against the Steelers with a 10.5-yard average on 16 returns, a number that ranks the Steelers' punt-coverage team closer to the bottom at No. 23.

Mason promoted

The Steelers have promoted cornerback Grant Mason from the practice squad to their 53-man roster as a replacement for safety Ryan Clark, who was placed on the injured-reserve list with an inflamed spleen.

Mason, 24, signed with the Steelers in January after originally signing as an undrafted free agent from Michigan with the New Orleans Saints in 2006. Mason, though, did not play last season after being waived by the Saints at the end of training camp.

Quick hits

Rookie running back Gary Russell's father died Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, and was buried yesterday. Russell will rejoin the team today. ... Running back Willie Parker did not practice, but his injury was listed as a hip and not a knee, which put him on the injury list last week. ... Rookie linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) did not practice, but linebacker Andre Frazier (groin) had limited participation. Offensive tackle Marvel Smith and wide receiver Hines Ward also were held out of practice with no specific injuries.