According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will not play this Sunday night at Baltimore. After a symptom free early week of practice, Big Ben experienced headaches after Wednesday and Thursday’s practice. Erring on the side of caution, he’ll be forced to miss Week 12’s tussle with the Ravens, a game both teams need to stay in the Wild Card mix.

With backup Charlie Batch (wrist surgery) out for six weeks the lead role will be played by Dennis Dixon…. Dennis Dixon?

Dixon, in his second year out of Oregon and is still very much an inexperienced pro with just one NFL career pass, a three-yard completion. in 2007, Dixon passed for 2,136 yards, 20 touchdowns and only four interceptions in nine-plus games played. He was a Heisman candidate through the first half of his senior season, but a knee injury derailed a promising year and he dipped into the fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft.

Like Big Ben, Dixon can make things happen with his legs and can improvise out of the pocket, but obviously he’s nowhere close to Roethlisberger when it comes to pocket presence and decision making. Dixon had a fairly erratic preseason in two games played, completing 18 of 35 passes (51.4 percent) for 180 yards. He threw zero touchdowns and no interceptions, was sacked once and ran for 20 yards on three carries. Not exactly a resume to get excited about heading into Baltimore in an AFC North defensive showdown.

The Ravens, sporting the leagues fifth best run defense, would be wise to load up the box with eight-man fronts and force Dixon to beat them downfield. While Baltimore has tendencies to give up the deep ball, it’s unrealistic to believe Dixon has what it takes to exploit a pro-defense in his first NFL start. The Steelers have a wildcat package for Dixon, but the team has only a day or so to prepare having just made the announcement. Former Pitt graduate Tyler Palko, signed this week to the practice squad, will be brought on board as the No. 2 QB. Big Ben will be tagged the emergency No. 3 signal caller for now, although if he’s scratched that job may go to WR Hines Ward.

In short, this does not bode well for Pittsburgh, and the Ravens defense will be licking their chops. Downgrade all Pittsburgh offensive starters, especially the receivers. However, expect running backs Rashard Mendenhall, Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore to see an increase in carries – that doesn’t mean they’ll fare any better. PK Jeff Reed will be the player most likely to score points for Pittsburgh, unless the defense comes up with a first-half gem. Upgrade the Ravens defense and Ray Rice, who could get more touches with a swing in TOP (time of possession).

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