The Steelers wound up their regular season with a methodical 31-0 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field today.

The game was not without at least one dramatic moment when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lay flat on the ground after a hit late in the first half. Roethlisberger was carted off the field on a spine board, his helmeted head secured as a precaution.

He was diagnosed with a concussion and taken to a local hospital for observation.

The victory in a game that meant nothing to their playoff position put the Steelers' regular-season record in the books at 12-4. Cleveland lost for the sixth straight time and finished 4-12. It was the Steelers 11th straight victory against the Browns.

The Steelers will open the playoffs Sunday, Jan. 11, at 4:45 p.m. at Heinz Field. Their opponent, the second-lowest seed in the AFC, will be determined next week.

The Steelers extended their 17-0 third-quarter lead to 24-0 when Gary Russell ran three yards for a touchdown with 9:41 left in the game.

Tyrone Carter intercepted his second pass of the game and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown a minute later to make it 31-0.

The Steelers led Cleveland 17-0 after three quarters with backup quarterback Byron Leftwich at the helm following Roethlisberger's removal on a stretcher with a concussion at the close of the first half.

Jeff Reed's 22-yard field goal was the only scoring in the third quarter.

The injury to Roethlisberger came in the final minutes of the first half. He gave a thumbs-up as he left the field to an ovation from the crowd.

Leftwich came on to complete a scoring drive after Roethlisberger left the game, scrambling eight yards up the middle with 32 seconds left to give the Steelers a 14-0 halftime lead.

Willie Parker ran for a 34-yard touchdown in the second quarter after a scoreless first quarter.

Parker's run was the longest by the Steelers this season.

In the first quarter Hines Ward went over 1,000 yards receiving for the season. It's his fifth 1,000-yard season and first since 2004.

The Steelers had a first down at Cleveland's 20 near the end of the first quarter, when Roethlisberger was intercepted at the six.

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