Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger relates to Dak Prescott-Tony Romo dilemma

— -- PITTSBURGH -- Not many can relate to Dak Prescott's rookie season better than Ben Roethlisberger, who in 2004 quarterbacked the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 15-1 record after replacing Tommy Maddox.

Prescott is 7-1 as the Dallas Cowboys' starter entering the matchup Sunday with the Steelers at Heinz Field. Tony Romo is close to returning from a back injury, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that the team is playing the QB quandary "by ear."

Maddox, who played for four NFL teams, the Arena Football League and the short-lived XFL in a journeyman career, became the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2002. He lost the starting job in 2004 when he sprained his elbow in Week 2 and Roethlisberger took over. Maddox never got the job back

Roethlisberger knows one quarterback truism.

"When you're just kind of rolling and you're not losing games, it's really hard to kind of change that position especially," Roethlisberger said Wednesday from his locker. "Take nothing away from Tony. He's been doing it at a high level. When you're winning football games, it's really hard to replace that one spot."

Prescott has 12 touchdowns to two interceptions in eight starts, with six passer ratings of 100 or better -- eclipsing Roethlisberger's total of three such games in seven starts this season.

Roethlisberger said Prescott has been "awesome" this year.

"Very similar to what I had (in 2004), he's got a great running game, good defense," Roethlisberger said. "He's not just managing games, he's taking games over. He's doing some pretty awesome stuff. It's fun to watch."