Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has never thrown for more than six touchdowns in his first three games of an NFL season. He hit tight end Heath Miller twice, Mike Wallace once and Antonio Brown with another score in Week 3's 34-31 loss at Oakland, giving him eight touchdown passes in PIttsburgh's first three games.

His 109.2 rating is the second-highest in the NFL, and his 904 yards ties him with New Orleans' Drew Brees for fourth .

Perhaps most importantly, his 68.2 percent completion rate is seventh in the league, and he has thrown one interception in 120 pass attempts this season.

In a season that's quickly being marked by a lack of running game and an inconsistent defense, Roethlisberger is firmly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with. He's easily off to the best start of his outstanding career, and had the Steelers been able to hang onto the 10-point lead they had in the fourth quarter in Week 3, Roethlisberger's 36-for-49 for 384 yards and four touchdown performance likely would have earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Roethlisberger set the Steelers' single-season touchdown passes record with 32 in 2007. He hasn't approached that mark since that year, but is on pace for 42 this year, which would shatter the previous mark.

His record-setting pace may not be much comfort to mourning Steelers fans, but the good news is they have a bye week to figure a few things out, and opponents will still have to figure him out. That hasn't been easy to this point.

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