Ben Roethlisberger thanks Bills, Rex Ryan for beating Jets

Foster said he thought Pittsburgh had Cleveland with 7:40 left in the Steelers’ game, after they crammed Moats’ fumble recovery, an instant Markus Wheaton touchdown, Anthony Chickillo forcing a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and a 21-yard field goal into less than three and a half minutes.

Following a 28-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their season finale on Sunday, the Cleveland Browns announced they officially fired head coach Mike Pettine. It all seemed like a long shot at best. And to think he put up these numbers without Ben Roethlisberger for four games.

Johnson caught 10 passes for 137 yards, including a diving catch of a 36-yard Matt Stafford pass for a touchdown in the third quarter.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Phil Dawson kicked a 23-yard field goal with 3:27 left in overtime, lifting San Francisco past St. Louis.

The Seahawks cruised behind three touchdown passes from Russell Wilson and a franchise-record 139 yards in punt returns by Tyler Lockett. It was the seventh catch of the season for Harris, and the first of the former college basketball player’s career. Racing up the sideline, Pryor was able to beat single coverage and climbed the ladder to come down with a 42-yard gain.

Following the game, star tackle Joe Thomas said he might not want to return. In true Cleveland fashion though, nothing can come that easy. FILE – In this August 10, 2015, file photo, Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer attends practice at the NFL football team’s training camp in Berea, Ohio.

But they did on the next one and Brown was a big reason why. They were bailed out with a nice grab from Barnidge, only to give it away once again as Davis fumbled the ball while getting sacked. In the end it would be too much for them to handle. Big Ben made bad decisions and he made bad throws.

Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Cleveland.

QUARTERBACK SWITCH: With Johnny Manziel’s season ended by a concussion, Austin Davis will start at quarterback for Cleveland.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, Marrone is first in line to interview for the Browns’ vacancy on Tuesday.

While Roethlisberger was thoroughly the more dominant of the two passers, both had troubles at times with accuracy.

In the first quarter, Alex Smith connected with Jeremy Maclin on a 25-yard touchdown pass, and then Spencer Ware capped a 12-play drive with a 3-yard run to the end zone. Brown also finished the season fourth all time with 1,834 yards this season.

Brown is not going to win the NFL MVP award, but he’s in the conversation. The problem being that they were unable to capitalize on those opportunities, giving the ball back through either punt’s, turnover on downs, or turnovers of their own. Sure, 1989 and 1993, years when Pittsburgh needed help to make the playoffs and got it, were memories that reassured me, but 2000, 2009 and 2013, seasons in-which the Steelers entered Week 17 under similar scenarios only for those scenarios to end in a negative fashion, were also fresh in my mind.

The first was picked by TJ Carrie late in the second quarter.