Tomlin says Roethlisberger-Haley relationship is healthy

• Steelers are 0-3 since Roethlisberger's return from injury
• Quarterback has repeatedly complained about offense despite early-season success
• Roethlisberger has made quicker decisions, throws under Haley's guidance

PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger was playing at a league MVP level, leading the league in third-down passing prior to suffering a sprained throwing shoulder and dislocated rib Nov. 12 against Kansas City.

In three games since his 3 1/2-game absence, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is 0-3 with six touchdowns, four interceptions while completing 55% of his passes. And on third down in Sunday's 13-10 loss to Cincinnati -- which knocked the Steelers from postseason contention -- Roethlisberger was 1 of 8 for 13 yards with three sacks and an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

He was never in rhythm with several passes sailing high, including his game-costing interception over Mike Wallace's head that set up the Bengals' winning field goal.

So can offensive coordinator Todd Haley get Roethlisberger back on track? Maybe the bigger question the 7-8 Steelers face is whether Roethlisberger and Haley can co-exist.

It was the question coming into this season. It will likely remain a question heading into the offseason after Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Cleveland Browns.

Any correlation between Roethlisberger's dropoff and the questions he may have about Haley's offense?

Roethlisberger criticized Haley's offense as "Dink and dunk'' early on, then ranted about the play calling following a Dec. 16 overtime loss against the Dallas Cowboys.

"No, I don't think so,'' coach Mike Tomlin said Monday. "I don't believe that. You'd think it would be an opportunity for growth there in terms of our players' ability to assimilate into an offensive system. Obviously, it hasn't done that.

"And we're not looking to make excuses. But I don't think that is central to the reason. No.''

Tomlin simply said Roethlisberger's play the last three games "hasn't been consistently good enough for us to win,'' adding the Roethlisberger-Haley relationship is a good, working one.

The bottom line? Haley had Roethlisberger getting the ball out quicker before he got hurt. Roethlisberger seemed to revert to holding onto the ball longer when he returned.

"I know both guys are committed to being reasons why we're successful, they understand their roles within that and I expect them to work and work hard at rectifying our issues where they have an opportunity to impact it,'' Tomlin said. "That's just black and white to me as I'm sure it is to them.''

Haley attributed Roethlisberger's criticism to heat-of-the-moment frustration.

"I'm not upset,'' Haley told USA TODAY Sports last Thursday. "And really I can't be.

"Ben and I, I've felt, have been on the same page throughout the year, as much as a quarterback and coordinator can be. There is going to be ups and downs and frustrations. But it's never been an issue of being on the same page.''

Roethlisberger concurred when he told USA TODAY Sports there will be no rift with Haley, whom he apologized to. Haley told Roethlisberger there was no need.

Haley's father, Dick, the former Steelers personnel director credited with selecting Pittsburgh's 1974 draft class of future Hall of Famers Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth and Mike Webster, spoke with his son following Sunday's loss.

"I know he is depressed right now,'' Dick Haley said from his Florida home. "But he badly wants to get that ship going in the right direction, is trying to help and keep Ben where he's excited about going out there every week.

"Todd's super excited about where he is and what he's doing having been around the Steelers as a ballboy when he was 8.

"He'll get some preaching from me on how he and the quarterback can get closer.''

It will simply take more time. Roethlisberger was used to former coordinator Bruce Arians, who ran the Steelers offense for five seasons since Ken Whisenhunt became head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2007.

Roethlisberger took the blame for his second consecutive game-costing interception that set up Josh Brown's 43-yard winning field goal.

"We have a lot of really good guys out there on offense, they played well,'' Roethlisberger said. "They need more play and better play from the quarterback.''

Maybe what they really need is to keep their quarterback healthy and provide him with a dynamic tailback upgrade over disappointing Rashard Mendenhall.

Injuries remained the story of this collapse, including worse than expected news on tight end Heath Miller, tied for a team-high eight touchdown receptions. Tomlin revealed Monday that Miller also suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament along with medial and posterior collateral ligament damage meaning his return for the start of training camp could be at risk depending on his recovery.