Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Steelers guard Alan Faneca (66) celebrates with Verron Haynes after the backup running back bulled his way 15 yards into the end zone on a third quarter touchdown run. The victory puts Pittsburgh one victory away from a wild card berth in the playoffs. Click photo for larger image. More Steelers Running back shows Browns why he's called Fast Willie Parker Steelers Notebook: Steelers' defense gets its Christmas wish with shutout Browns embarrassed by dismal performance Game 15 photo journal NFL News AFC Wildcard: Jaguars score 3 TDs in 4th quarter to clinch playoff spot AFC Wild Card: Johnson keeps K.C. in the race AFC Playoffs: A costly loss for Cincinnati NFL Notebook: Seahawks reserve moment for Dungy NFL Roundup: Cowboys keep their playoff hopes alive Self-conscious Detroit prepares to host the Super Bowl Stats and more in the Sports Forecaster NFL Watch.

CLEVELAND -- After polishing off the Cleveland Browns as if they were Christmas cookies, the Steelers last evening bolted home on the turnpikes knowing everything was back in hand for them.

Only the Detroit Lions in Heinz Field next Sunday separate the Steelers from a playoff berth, and they fully expect to pop some champagne on New Year's Day.

"We'll take some time, enjoy Christmas, come back Wednesday and understand what we have in front of us," coach Bill Cowher said. "We control our destiny. That's the only thing that counts."

By the time they stopped counting yesterday, the Steelers rang up the Browns, 41-0. Their first shutout in five seasons, combined with San Diego's 20-7 loss to Kansas City, left a clear path for the Steelers to earn the AFC's sixth and last playoff berth as a wild-card team outright if they beat the Lions to go 11-5.

"It's big, man," nose tackle Casey Hampton said. "It's a one-game season. We control our own destiny, you can't ask for anything else. That's what you play for."

Yesterday, they played like kids on Christmas morning, scoring on their first four series and leaving little doubt by the second quarter how this one was going to end.

Willie Parker put the cornerstone in this victory when he ripped through a gaping hole in the left side of the line and scorched 80 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter that put the Steelers ahead, 27-0, and put Parker over 1,000 yards rushing after picking up 130 against the Browns.

The Steelers sacked rookie quarterback Charlie Frye eight times and forced him to fumble four times. They outgained the Browns, 457-178.

"Pittsburgh played a great game today," Cleveland linebacker Ben Taylor said. "We got embarrassed on our own field."

Jerome Bettis ran 2 yards for a touchdown, Hines Ward caught a 7-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger for his 11th touchdown catch, and Jeff Reed kicked field goals of 26 and 31 yards to stake the Steelers to a comfortable, 20-0 halftime lead.

Verron Haynes ran 15 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, and Charlie Batch tossed a 31-yard touchdown pass to ex-Brown Quincy Morgan in the fourth quarter.

Roethlisberger completed 13 of 20 passes for 226 yards and no interceptions. Ward caught seven passes for 105 yards.

"They had a running back that we couldn't catch and a quarterback that threw pretty well," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said.

Frye completed 20 of 39 passes for 183 yards. The Steelers held Reuben Droughns to 36 yards rushing and the Browns to 55 total.

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Steelers receiver Cedrick Wilson catches a 46-yard pass in front of Browns defensive back Chris Crocker on the last play of the first quarter. The catch helped set up a 26-yard field goal by Jeff Reed. Click photo for larger image.

The Steelers were methodical on their first series, taking a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard run by Bettis, who carried Taylor on his back the whole way. It was the 11th play in an 84-yard drive that lasted 5:51. Roethlisberger completed 3 of 4 passes in that drive for 58 yards.

"This was one of those games where we clicked really well on offense," Roethlisberger said. "Our defense was out there having fun flying around. It was fun watching them."

Cleveland went 3-and-out on its second series, and the Steelers' second drive ended with another touchdown, this one a 7-yard pass from Roethlisberger to Ward. It was a perfectly thrown ball over the middle of the end zone just out of reach of cornerback Ray Mickens.

"It was trust," Ward said. "He threw it where only I could get it. He said 'Hines make a play for me.' We're starting to grow into our own, the more and more we see of each other."

Roethlisberger opened things up on that series, taking just six plays to move 63 yards, and Ward was the receiving star. He caught all three passes on the drive, including consecutive receptions covering 19 and 32 yards.

Antwaan Randle El then returned a punt 36 yards deep into Browns territory, but he fumbled and Browns safety Brodney Pool recovered at the Cleveland 12.

But the Browns again could not get a first down, and the Steelers made it three drives, three scores when Reed kicked a 26-yard field goal to pump their lead to 17-0. Again, Roethlisberger hit a big play, this one on a deep pass caught by Cedrick Wilson for a 46-yard pickup. It was Roethlisberger's seventh consecutive completion after an incompletion on his first try.

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Cleveland quarterback Charlie Frye fumbled four times. He dove after one of the loose balls along with Steelers linebacker James Farrior (51), Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke (76) and Browns running back Reuben Droughns. Farrior recovered the ball, which was stripped from Frye by linebacker Clark Haggans in the third quarter. Click photo for larger image.

"We came out this week in practice and tried to air the ball out a little more," Roethlisberger said. "I did that a couple of times today."

Their fourth drive ended with another Reed field goal, from 31 yards, that came after James Harrison tipped a punt by Cleveland's Kyle Richardson that netted just 5 yards.

The Browns, in the meantime, did not get a first down until 11:25 was left in the third quarter.

The Steelers' sixth sack came when Clark Haggans also stripped Frye of the ball and James Farrior recovered at the Browns' 15. Haynes broke several tackles to score from there off the right side for a 34-0 lead. Linebacker Joey Porter finished with three sacks, and defensive end Brett Keisel had two.

"We showed a lot of different coverages, a lot of different blitzes," Porter said. "The result was us getting him on the ground a few times and making him throw some bad balls."

The Steelers dominated the Browns, beating them for the 11th time in the past 12 games.

"My Christmas is good now," Morgan said. "I don't need anything else for Christmas."

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Starter Ben Roethlisberger cheers after backup quarterback Charlie Batch rifled a 31-yard touchdown pass to former Browns receiver Quincy Morgan in the fourth quarter. Click photo for larger image