Steelers aim to beat Browns, get help to make AFC playoffs

The Browns fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the Steelers tacked on a field goal.

Getting into mid-January – and beyond – is the standard at a place where the players pass a half-dozen shimmering Super Bowl trophies each day.

The Steelers pulled off the Lake Erie parlay they needed and are headed back to the playoffs.

Although the Browns (3-12) do not have anything on the line in terms of playoff positioning or a chance at the AFC North Division Championship, they can play spoiler against a Steelers (9-6) team that needs a win over Cleveland and a New York Jets loss to the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium to make it back to the postseason. Before he caught his 125th pass, Brown fumbled following a 13-yard reception. Owner Jimmy Haslam, who vowed in August that he wouldn’t “blow things up” did just that, ousting Pettine and Farmer after two disappointing seasons. He was 10-22 in two seasons in Cleveland. A victory over the Browns and some help via Ryan’s Bills was then going to be required for a playoff berth to be realized.

With the Jets and Bills starting at the same time, the Steelers will have to avoid temptation to check the out-of-town scoreboard.

CLEVELAND (AP) – They’re the last team to qualify for the AFC playoffs, but the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t care about their seeding. The playoff spot is a reprieve for a team that almost gave it away in an upset loss at Baltimore in Week 16.

Big Ben finished 24 of 36 and improved to 19-2 over Cleveland.

There was some possible bad news for the Steelers because halfback DeAngelo Williams left the game with a right ankle injury.

A 17-yard dart to wide receiver Brown with 1:02 left in the first half stretched the lead to 14-6.

First things first. As long as they don’t stumble against the Browns (3-12), whom they easily handled 30-9 on November 15, the Steelers have a playoff pulse.

And beyond their many on-field issues, Manziel, who was sidelined with a concussion, continued to be a distraction. The polarizing QB was reportedly spotted in Las Vegas instead of being with his teammates for the finale, not a good look for the 23-year-old or the Browns.

As usual, it was the Roethlisberger-to-Brown connection that covered up Pittsburgh’s blemishes.

Walker became just the ninth tight end to catch 90 or more passes in a season.

Already the first Washington quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards with at least four touchdowns and no interceptions in consecutive games, Cousins threw three scoring passes in the first quarter against Dallas on Sunday.