PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have risen from the ashes to become a playoff contender again after missing them the past two seasons with identical 8-8 records.

And they are doing it in different manner than anyone has seen in quite some time. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for six touchdowns for the second straight week — the first quarterback in NFL history to do that — and the Steelers raised their record to 6-3 by spanking Baltimore 43-23 for their third straight win.

They now go on the road for the next two games with a great chance to improve to 8-3 before they head into their bye — visiting the 1-8 New York Jets and then at the 2-6 Tennessee Titans.

Roethlisberger has thrown 22 touchdown passes and just three interceptions — 14 and 0 over the past three games. In the last two games he completed 65 of 86 passes for 862 yards, 12 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and a 146.4 passer rating.

With 2,720 yards, has more than Peyton Manning (2,572), Tom Brady (2,392) or Drew Brees (2,524). Manning and Brees each played one less game than Roethlisberger.

“He’s one of the best in the game,” offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert said. “He’s been doing it for awhile. You just expect that from him.”

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, under fire earlier in the season as that offense struggled, called virtually all the plays the past two weeks because the Steelers did not use the no-huddle offense. If this continues, Haley could be setting himself up as a head coaching candidate again.

Some data worth noting:

–Pittsburgh has scored at least 30 points in five games this season. That ties for the third-most they have had in any one season in their history. They did it seven times in both 1975 and 1979. They scored at least 40 points in consecutive games for only the second time in their history, the only other times in 1966.

–Linebacker James Harrison, who did not sign back with the Steelers until Sept. 23, has four sacks in the past two games and that leads the team.

NOTES: S Troy Polamalu left the game in the first half with a sprained knee and did not return. His status this week is uncertain. … LB Ryan Shazier left the game with a sprained right ankle and did not return. He was wearing a walking boot after the game. … S Shamarko Thomas reinjured his hamstring that previously kept him sidelined for three games.

REPORT CARD VS. RAVENS

–PASSING OFFENSE: A – Ben Roethlisberger was on fire again, becoming the only quarterback in NFL history to have consecutive 6 touchdowns passing. After a slow start that included three sacks, he completed 25 of 37 for 340 yards and no interceptions. His passer rating was 136.3 and he was not sacked in the second half.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: D – The Steelers ran 25 times and produced just 55 yards with no touchdowns and a 2.2-yard average. For some reason, they ran LeGarrette Blount as many times as Le’Veon Bell, 10 each, but with little production either way – 23 yards for Blount and 20 for Bell.

–PASS DEFENSE: B – Joe Flacco passed for 303 yards (30 of 45) but for the second straight game all those yards did not tell the tale. Flacco was sacked four times, twice by 36-year-old James Harrison, and another pressure by Harrison caused him to throw poorly into a Jason Worilds interception that set up the Steelers’ go-ahead touchdown. Flacco threw for two touchdowns.

–RUSH DEFENSE: B-plus – The Ravens running game, like the Steelers, was never a factor except in one instance — when linebacker Arthur Moats forced rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro to fumble, cornerback Brian McCain ran 26 yards with it and it set up a Steelers touchdown that tied the game 7-7. The Ravens had 63 yards rushing and a 3.5-yard average with no touchdowns.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: F – Jacoby Jones returned a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown and also had a punt return of 25 yards to Pittsburgh’s 35 on a poor Brad Wing punt that set up the Ravens first touchdown. Antonio Brown had fair catches on all four punts to him. Pittsburgh had no field goal tries and Baltimore’s Justin Tucker was good on his only attempt, from 46 yards.

–COACHING: A – Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, like his quarterback, is on fire. Over the past two games in which Ben Roethlisberger has had his epic moments, they have used the no-huddle not at all. Haley has been calling all the players. On defense, Dick LeBeau has been dialing up blitzes to good effect and keeps working in guys like James Harrison as he rounds into shape. He’s also doing it with a remade secondary.