"Ben Roethlisberger didn't leave Monday night's game late in the fourth quarter with the outcome decided because, well, he didn't want to.

With the Steelers trailing San Francisco by three scores, Roethlisberger refused to exit the game despite being limited with a high-ankle sprain sustained Dec. 8.

"When Coach tried to get me out, I said, 'No, I'm not putting you in that situation, and I'm not quitting on our guys," Roethlisberger said. "I started this thing. I'm going to finish it.""