It appears the Pittsburgh Steelers have survived the suspension of two-time Super Bowl-winning QB Ben Roethlisberger with flying colors.

The pro football experts around the league whom PFW talked to this past week, in advance of Roethlisberger's return to action from his four-game hiatus for violating the league's personal-conduct policy, agree that, because the Steelers' organization remains in a league of its own, the odds that Roethlisberger will be sporting a third Super Bowl ring four months from now are looking more than a little favorable.

There were many leaguewide observers who had predicted that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin would have a hard time keeping the Steelers ship on a steady course with Roethlisberger's off-the-field indiscretions creating a bad vibe in Steelers Nation that would linger well into the season.

In the tough AFC North — with a Ravens team predicted by many to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender and the defending division champion Bengals having appeared to be poised to take advantage of Roethlisberger's absence — the loss of Big Ben for a quarter of the season had created what looked like a potentially insurmountable hurdle.

But lo and behold, there were the Steelers, a mere half-minute away from going 4-0 without Roethlisberger before losing to the Ravens 17-14 in Week Four.

Credit the "Steelers Way" for keeping the curtain from closing prematurely on Pittsburgh's 2010 season.

"How many teams do you think could be 3-1 against a tough schedule without their starting quarterback?" one envious NFL team executive told PFW. "They are one of the few. It all starts with the Rooney family. They are so consistent in their approach.

"They adjust so well to what they have. Whether it's the quarterback or (star SS Troy) Polamalu or the linebackers, they plug and play.