It was the best of times, it was … well, not quite the worst of times.

But even as Ben Roethlisberger went out a winner in his last game at Heinz Field, his performance underscored that it is, indeed, time for the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback to retire.

Roethlisberger was 24 for 46 for just 123 yards. He threw a touchdown and an interception. His passer rating was 56.3.

That topped Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield at 53.1, but let’s set the bar higher.

Roethlisberger didn’t look the part. He mostly hasn’t. The ball just didn’t get there. Roethlisberger averaged a meager 2.7 yards per attempt. Short, shorter, shortest.

But Roethlisberger has never cared about stats. He just wants to win, so his fervent hope for his home-field swan song was obliged. He has played 18 seasons and never experienced a losing record. That’s Mike Tomlin’s trademark, but Roethlisberger had more to do with it.

Roethlisberger piloted the Steelers to no worse than a .500 record this year despite a diminished skill set, a terrible line and a receiving corps that disappointed.

That’s what winners do, though winning enough was never a possibility. Roethlisberger’s final season is nonetheless an accomplishment of sorts.

Monday’s 26-14 triumph was the Steelers’ first by more than one score. Their eight wins have come against bad teams or against good teams having bad games. They never got a victory by outplaying a good team that performed well. Their point difference is minus 58.

It’s hard to find tangible reasons for the Steelers being as good as 8-7-1 with the slimmest of chances to make the playoffs. Roethlisberger’s will to win trickled down, maybe.

Roethlisberger finished his career 26-3-1 vs. the Browns, his perennial whipping boys.

But Monday’s best bit was the unconditional love shown to Roethlisberger by those in attendance at Heinz Field. It hasn’t always been there to such a noisy degree, but better late than never.

The electricity was reminiscent of Mario Lemieux’s final game at Mellon Arena before his first retirement in 1997.

That game was also played in a hopeless situation: The Penguins trailed Philadelphia three games to none in a playoff series. Lemieux netted a dramatic breakaway, the Penguins won, another game was played, but on the road. That game at Philadelphia was mostly forgotten, like Sunday’s Steelers game at Baltimore will likely be. (Lemieux scored at Philly, too. Of course.)

The cheers were loud Monday. Signs of thanks and adulation were plentiful. Roethlisberger’s teammates went the extra mile and were visibly supportive.

Pittsburgh came through, just like Roethlisberger did, and so often did.

Roethlisberger’s resume is well noted. It will lead to enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If not for him, Pittsburgh football fans would still reminisce about the ’70s. He’s tough and unselfish, a perfect fit, a true Steeler by any definition. His last play at Heinz Field was ideal: Roethlisberger took a knee in the victory formation.

It’s tough to watch him go.

It will be tougher still to recover from his departure.

The man who might help most is Najee Harris. The rookie back had his best game of the season Monday, racking up 188 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. If the Steelers improve their offensive line in the offseason, perhaps the ground game becomes more important than the aerial attack. The Steelers’ offensive identity may change. (That’s if you think they had one this season.)

Mason Rudolph will be the starting quarterback next season. Just a reminder.

We will talk about the QB position ad nauseam. But Rudolph will be adequate given the starter’s reps, and the Steelers have too many other problems to solve.

Like Roethlisberger, T.J. Watt is finishing a mixed bag of a season.

Watt missed two games, left three early because of injury and had two others when being hurt render him ineffective. But he was a terror in the other nine games and likely clinched NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors with four sacks Monday. Watt has 21½ sacks on the season, just one shy of the NFL’s single-season record.

Imagine if Watt stayed healthy all season.

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