Pro Football weekly

After struggling in his first start in place of Ben Roethlisberger, Batch helped lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 23-20 victory over Baltimore on Sunday.||||||| Batch was 25 of 36 for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception during the Steelers' third straight game without Roethlisberger. He was intercepted three times in a 20-14 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 25.

Ben Roethlisberger will not play Sunday in Baltimore, meaning Charlie Batch will make his second consecutive start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.||||||| Roethlisberger threw briefly early in practice Friday but was in a sweat suit watching by the time practice ended. He will miss a third consecutive game since sustaining a sprained right shoulder and a dislocated rib in a 16-13 win against Kansas City Nov. 12. The Steelers (6-5) lost each of the first two games Roethlisberger missed, including two weeks ago at home to the rival Ravens (9-2). Batch, 37, then threw three interceptions in a 20-14 loss in Cleveland.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday the 37-year-old Batch will start at quarterback on Sunday in Cleveland.||||||| Batch is 5-2 while subbing for Roethlisberger through the years. Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich are both out indefinitely with rib injuries. Batch passed for 208 yards in a 27-0 victory over St. Louis last December.

The Steelers re-signed Batch to a one-year contract on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed.||||||| Batch, a Pittsburgh native who was drafted by Detroit in 1998 out of Eastern Michigan, will enter his 15th NFL season and 11th with the Steelers. He threw for just 208 yards last season, but is 5-2 as a Pittsburgh starter.