Steelers take AFC North crown, secure AFC's No. 2 seed in playoffs

CLEVELAND -- There are steps, some big, some small, teams must take before they can be Super Bowl champions.

The Pittsburgh Steelers know the uphill path well.

On Sunday, they quickened their pace.

Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes as the Steelers geared up for another possible title run by winning the AFC North and securing a first-round playoff bye with a 41-9 rout of Cleveland, in what may have been Eric Mangini's last game as Browns coach.

"We love to win the division," Roethlisberger said. "This is a hard division. We hope this is just the beginning."

Roethlisberger, who rested most of the second half, threw a 56-yard TD to Mike Wallace on his first pass as the Steelers (11-5) built a 31-3 halftime lead and rocked the Browns (5-11), who didn't put up much of a fight in their finale -- and maybe Mangini's.

The Steelers clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC and guaranteed themselves at least one more game at Heinz Field.

"Mission accomplished," said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, sporting a black-and-white championship cap. "We're excited to win the division and proud of doing it, but it's only hardware you pick up along the way. Today was the first game where we felt like we played close to what we're capable of."

The Steelers look ready for a lengthy playoff run.

The Browns, on the other hand, are ready for more change.

Mangini fell to 10-22 in two seasons with Cleveland. On Monday, he's scheduled to meet with team president Mike Holmgren, who may fire him and appoint himself coach. When the game ended, a downcast Mangini was consoled by defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who will reportedly interview for Carolina's head coaching vacancy.

Mangini doesn't know what's ahead, but his demeanor was that of a beaten man.

"I thought we got beat in all three phases," Mangini said. "They had a better plan than we did and when that happens against a team like this, you have a day like today. It's difficult to feel any positives in the wake of what happened."

For Roethlisberger, this was more redemption.

He began the season serving a four-game suspension -- cut from six by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell -- for violating the league's personal conduct policy. There was no telling how the Steelers would do without him. But they went 3-1 without their leader, and in his first game, he threw three TD passes in a 28-10 win over Cleveland on Oct. 17.

Not only did Roethlisberger return as the same physical talent, he came back a more mature person.

Big Ben, now more at peace with himself, has hardly been better.

"We have been through a lot," he said. "Now, it's playoff time."

Roethlisberger went 15 of 22 for 280 yards. He has thrown 158 passes without an interception, the longest streak of his career and further evidence of improved judgment and composure not always present.

"Ben came through adversity," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "He stepped up, not that he hasn't in the past. But this season didn't start like other seasons."

With the Steelers leading 38-3, Tomlin sat Roethlisberger with 5:34 left in the third.

It was time to start planning for the playoffs. But before Tomlin could get all his starters out, rookie center Maurkice Pouncey suffered a neck stinger. Earlier, starting left cornerback Bryant McFadden injured his groin and did not return.

Otherwise, these Steelers appeared fit and focused.

They finished tied with Baltimore, but won their fifth division crown in nine years because of a tiebreaker. It wasn't assured until they avoided a slip-up and avenged last season's 13-6 loss in Cleveland, when a 1-11 Browns team sacked Roethlisberger eight times.

Mendenhall's two short TD bursts and Roethlisberger's scoring passes to Wallace -- following Troy Polamalu's interception -- and Heath Miller gave the Steelers a 28-3 lead. It swelled to 38-3 in the third on wide receiver Antwaan Randle El's 3-yard TD pass to Ward.

"We knew we had a lot riding on this game," Miller said. "Our whole season came down to this. All of our goals hinged on this. We knew we had to take care of business."

Cleveland's fourth straight loss was likely the final straw for Mangini, who kept his job last year when his team closed with a four-game winning streak. The Browns improved in several statistical areas, but went 2-6 following an upset of New England.

Holmgren will discuss the future with him early Monday. It doesn't look good for Mangini, who was fired by the New York Jets after 2008.

Mangini's fate seemed sealed before kickoff, but if Holmgren needed another reason, he's got it. The Browns were no competition for their next-door neighbors from Pennsylvania. Mangini dropped to 2-10 in division games, and after so many close losses, his Browns were blown out.

"Nobody feels good right now," Mangini said. "This is the first time this season when I didn't feel like we were in the game."

Under pressure on almost every pass, Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy was intercepted three times and sacked four more. He ended up 20 of 41 for 209 yards -- much of it in garbage time. He did throw a 20-yard TD pass to Brian Robiskie in the fourth.

McCoy wasn't expected to play this season, but was thrust into a starting role by injuries. He went just 2-6, but felt fortunate to gain experience.

"I don't know what the future holds for the coaching staff," McCoy said. "Guys in that locker room are committed to changing the way it's been around here, and I'm one of them."

Notes: It may have been K Phil Dawson's final game with Cleveland. The only player left from the 1999 expansion team is a free agent. "It was an emotional game," he said. "I'm just going home to Texas, do some fishing and we'll see what happens." ... Polamalu's seventh pick tied a career high for a season. ... Pittsburgh gave up only 62.8 yards rushing per game, shattering the team record set in 2001.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Bears knock out Favre, Vikings to win first NFC North title since 2006

MINNEAPOLIS -- Bundled up on the sideline in a heavy, gray coat, Brett Favre could only watch as Devin Hester and the Chicago Bears sped through the snow to the NFC North title.

Favre's surprise start ended with a concussion, perhaps putting him out for good, and the Bears spoiled Minnesota's first outdoor home game in 29 years.

Vikings quarterback Brett Favre made a surprise start Monday, but a second quarter head injury cut short what was likely the final home start of his Hall of Fame career.  More ...

Hester set the NFL record with his 14th kick return touchdown, running back a punt 64 yards for a score shortly after halftime to help the Bears fly past the Vikings 40-14 on a frosty, hard-hitting Monday night.

"You play long enough, you're going to get your bell rung," Favre said.

Jay Cutler threw for three scores for the Bears (10-4), who last won this division during their 2006 Super Bowl season. Hester caught one of Cutler's touchdown passes and also took back the second-half kickoff 79 yards to set up a field goal a few minutes before his game-breaking punt return made it 27-7.

That was Hester's 14th career return touchdown, kickoff or punt, breaking Brian Mitchell's previous mark.

"Don't dwell on this," Hester said. "It's the record-breaker, but there's going to be a lot more. I guarantee you that."

Favre doesn't have many, if any, left. He finished 5 for 7 for 63 yards before the big hit by Corey Wootton, and the Vikings (5-9) fell apart in front of their proud alumni in town for the franchise's 50th anniversary celebration featuring all kinds of blasts from the past.

With the Metrodome unusable because of a roof collapse, the game was moved to the University of Minnesota. TCF Bank Stadium was about 80 percent full, with snowballs flying from the seats -- sometimes hitting players -- and plenty of frolicking in the flakes.

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Favre wasn't even supposed to play, but his sprained throwing shoulder suddenly felt better this weekend. His NFL-record starts streak over, he still wanted to play once more in front of the Vikings fans that embraced him so warmly after booing him for so long as a member of the Packers.

He passed his pregame throwing test and trotted out in front of the Minnesota fans one last time, finding Percy Harvin for a 23-yard TD to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead after the opening drive.

"There were a few friendly wagers in the quarterback room on whether Brett would be out there," said Cutler, who had a cut on his chin after a hit from Antoine Winfield and played with a big bandage. "I wasn't surprised at all."

Favre managed one more joyful jump on a teammate's back to celebrate a touchdown, piggybacking right guard Ryan Cook before embracing Harvin and raising his left arm in triumph as he jogged off.

"It was a great opening drive," Favre said. "I probably should've went straight up the tunnel after that. But again -- you've got to try sometimes."

Henry Melton tipped Favre's pass on the next Minnesota possession, Julius Peppers intercepted it at the 14 and Robbie Gould kicked a field goal. The next drive was a three-and-out, and Favre had to hustle back and smother the ball after a high snap slipped through his hands. Cutler zipped a 67-yard pass up the sideline over safety Madieu Williams to a streaking Johnny Knox, and the Bears built a 10-7 lead they never lost.

In the second quarter, the Vikings lost Favre -- possibly for good.

On third-and-4 from the Bears 48, Wootton got in the backfield and grabbed Favre by his non-throwing shoulder, slamming him to the cold turf players had worried about in the days before the game. The career leader in almost every major statistical category for quarterbacks, Favre lay motionless for a few seconds before climbing to his feet and walking off with his head hung down.

Devin Hester made NFL history on Monday, setting a record with his 14th career return for a touchdown. The Bears star moved ahead of Redskins great Brian Mitchell on the all-time list.  More ...

With a black cap pulled past his eyebrows, Favre grimaced as he put on an oversized purple coat and got ready to watch the rest of the game. Rookie Joe Webb took over, scoring on a 13-yard scramble to the edge of the end zone to cut the lead to 27-14, but the Bears had their way after putting perhaps the final seal on Favre's storied 20-year career.

Favre repeatedly has said this will be his final season. He spoke wistfully of his career after the game, but refused to rule himself out of either of the last two games just yet.

"He can walk away with his legacy intact," Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier said.

If Favre was diagnosed with a concussion, he'd need to meet NFL guidelines requiring him to be symptom-free and cleared by both a team doctor and independent neurological consultant before he can play again.

The Bears were playing their second straight snow-globe-style game, actually, eager to erase the taste of last week's blowout loss at Soldier Field to the New England Patriots.

They certainly got that done.

"By no means are we completely satisfied," Cutler said. "We know we can be so much better offensively."

Afterthoughts in a division featuring Favre and the reigning champion Vikings plus a dangerous Green Bay team, the Bears didn't buy into the doubts. They've caught several opponents at the right time, including the banged-up Vikings. With Cutler playing better, Hester back in his super-rookie form and the defense relatively healthy again, however, the Bears are feeling just fine.

"It's hard to stop that type of team, when everybody is scoring," Hester said.

Former Vikings coach Bud Grant jogged around the field at halftime in a short-sleeve purple shirt, getting carried off by some of his former players after an inspired ceremony.

With general-admission seating, customers braved the cold in parkas, snowmobile suits and ski caps, celebrating touchdowns with snowball throws and cheering their favorite players from the past as they were introduced at halftime.

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Dozens of workers the massaged the field before the game to make it as playable as possible, with machines pushing snow across the yard lines and into the corners of the brick-lined walls. Crews gently rolled off the tarp before warmups while the flakes kept flying.

Players from both teams expressed concerns this week about the safety of the turf. Vikings punter Chris Kluwe posted on Twitter after Sunday's walkthrough his comparison of the surface to "concrete." He predicted a "trainwreck" and later said he was asked to stop tweeting by the team.

Notes: The temperature at kickoff was 23 degrees, with a windchill of 9. ... The attendance was announced at 40,504. ... Williams left the game with a concussion. ... Chicago's Matt Forte, whose knee to the head knocked Williams out, had 92 yards on 17 carries.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Steelers survive penalties, punches to rout Raiders and stay in AFC North race

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers returned to the Steel Curtain days of the 1970s. The Raiders went back to the bad old days of the last seven years.

There were punches and penalties, a Steelers defense that wouldn't stop and a Raiders offense that couldn't get started. One week after getting embarrassed by the Patriots, a year after losing to Oakland, James Harrison and the Steelers tossed around the Raiders like it was a playground pickup game while beating them 35-3 on Sunday.

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Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour punched Ben Roethlisberger in the jaw with an open hand, but the Steelers never flinched. They shrugged off a club-record 163 yards in penalties, chased a bewildered quarterback Jason Campbell from the game and punished the Raiders like the Steel Curtain teams of the '70s did so many opponents.

The Steelers (7-3), still tied with Baltimore for the AFC North lead, were motivated by last week's 39-26 home-field loss to New England and last year's 27-24 defeat to Oakland that all but ruined their season.

"It definitely was an old school, physical type game from back in the day," linebacker James Farrior said. "That's the type of game we wanted to make it, a physical game, and improve from our performance of last week."

Harrison, the former AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, did much of the damage with five tackles, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. He also took one of the Steelers' six personal foul penalties for slamming Campbell to the turf as the quarterback threw a pass.

"We didn't worry about the calls," Harrison said. "When you're getting a lot of penalties against you, it brings you together."

Seymour, long one of the NFL's top defensive players, displayed Oakland's frustration by striking Roethlisberger in the face as the quarterback celebrated his TD pass to Sanders late in the second quarter.

"I've never seen a quarterback get punched since I've been in this league," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

Several Raiders were certain Roethlisberger said something to Seymour.

"I'm not sure why he ran up on me," Seymour said.

"I heard that Big Ben said something," defensive lineman Tommy Kelly said. "I guess Big Rich didn't like it."

What the Raiders (5-5) most disliked was getting shoved around like the Raiders teams that lost at least 11 games each season from 2003-09. Oakland fell out of a tie for the AFC West lead as Kansas City (6-4) beat Arizona 31-13.

Oakland averaged 458 yards and 38.6 points during its three-game winning streak, but had only 52 yards -- 11 rushing -- as the Steelers opened a 21-3 halftime lead.

"We played against a really tough defense today that got after us," said Campbell, who was 7 of 19 for 70 yards and an interception. "Once we got behind the 8-ball and they got all the momentum, they just kept bringing it and bringing it."

Campbell never had a chance against a Steelers defense that forced three turnovers, two that became touchdowns, had six sacks and limited Darren McFadden to 14 yards on 10 carries, 94 below his average. The Steelers have allowed only one 100-yard rusher in 44 games.

The Raiders were so ineffective, the Steelers had more penalty yards than they had offensive yards until deep in the third quarter. The Steelers outgained them 431-182 as Roethlisberger threw touchdown passes of 52 yards to Mike Wallace, 22 yards to Emmanuel Sanders and 16 yards to Isaac Redman and scrambled 16 yards for a touchdown.

"I don't know how a team can overcome that many penalties, but we did it," Sanders said.

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Roethlisberger was 18 of 29 for 275 yards and had 55 yards rushing. Wallace had his fifth 100-yard receiving game with 116 yards, and Rashard Mendenhall's 15-yard TD run put Pittsburgh ahead to stay 7-3 in the second quarter.

Bruce Gradkowski, who threw three touchdown passes during the final 8 ½ minutes of Oakland's stunning win in Pittsburgh last season, replaced Campbell but also couldn't get anything going.

While the penalties didn't affect Pittsburgh's domination, the many calls inflamed their fans. The Harrison penalty so upset the crowd of 64,987 that it booed for the ensuing three plays, and fans began a derisive cheer aimed at referee Tony Corrente.

"Their defensive guys were hitting our offensive guys and there were no penalties," Harrison said. "I believe if it happened the other way, there would have been a lot more penalties called and maybe they would have kicked five or six of us out of game."

Notes: Oakland had 55 yards in penalties. ... Oakland's defensive end Trevor Scott tore the ACL in his left knee, usually a season-ending injury. ... Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey was pulled in the second half with a thigh injury. ... WR Hines Ward made three catches for 28 yards a week after a concussion sidelined him for the final three quarters against New England, ending his streak of 186 consecutive games with a reception. ... Oakland still hasn't won in Pittsburgh in successive seasons. ... Pittsburgh didn't allow a point in the second half after giving up 29 to New England. ... Shaun Suisham, the Steelers' new kicker, didn't attempt a field goal.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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