Steelers clinch bye, AFC North title with 41-9 win
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The Steelers' Troy Polamalu intercepts a pass.
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CLEVELAND -- The Steelers won the AFC North Division championship today and clinched the No. 2 seed in the conference and a bye next weekend in the playoffs by routing the Cleveland Browns, 41-9.
Ben Roethlisberger threw touchdown passes to Mike Wallace and Heath Miller; Rashard Mendenhall ran for two 1-yard touchdowns; and Antwaan Randle El tossed his second touchdown pass of the season, to Hines Ward. The Steelers ran out to a 31-3 halftime lead and scored on the first six possessions -- five touchdowns and a 41-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham. They did not punt until late in the third quarter. Suisham also kicked a 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
The Steelers will open the playoffs Jan. 15 or 16 at Heinz Field. A victory in that game would advance the team to the AFC championship game.
Their division championship is their 20th since the 1970 NFL merger, most in the league.
PG VIDEO: STEELERS REPORTInterceptions by Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark set up two of the touchdowns as the Steelers picked off Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy three times in the first half.
The Steelers struck early when Polamalu, playing for the first time in three games, intercepted McCoy on the game's second play from scrimmage. On the third play from scrimmage, Roethlisberger threw deep and connected with Wallace, who caught the pass at the five and polished off the 56-yard touchdown play.
On their second drive, the Steelers scored again, although it took them a few more plays on that one. They moved 71 yards on 10 plays with Mendenhall crashing over right guard for a 1-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Cleveland put together a longer drive, starting from its 18, and moved 80 yards on 15 plays. On fourth down at the two, Phil Dawson came on and kicked a 19-yard field goal, and it was 14-3.
The Steelers made it three series, three touchdowns after Mendenhall scored a second time from the one, ending a 74-yard drive on the 11th play.
First Published January 2, 2011 2:42 pm
