The Steelers headed into a very windy Cleveland, Sunday, to take on the Browns with full intentions on getting the win and the best seeding they could entering the playoffs. Bruised and battered, with many Steelers players at less than 100 percent, they sealed a win. The Steelers needed Cincinnati to win as well to win the second seed in the AFC, but the Ravens were able to hold off the Bengals by a score of 24-16. The Steelers will see post-season play, but they have a tough road ahead of them. With a final score of 13 – 9, the Steelers will spend this week preparing for the Denver Broncos instead of getting a much-needed first-round bye. The win in Cleveland, however, was the first step to another post-season berth. Right now, that is what matters.
Despite the brace on his ankle, Ben Roethlisberger was able to throw 23 of 40 for 221 yards. He wasn't able to get a toss into the endzone, however. Although he was sacked twice, he didn't turn the ball over either. After the game, Roethlisberger said, “Now is the time to go out and play our best football. We'd like to get it together, starting next week.”
Steelers MVP Antonio Brown had a fantastic game by catching 6 passes for 90 yards. On three kickoff returns, he posted another 73 yards and went over the 1000 yard mark. Brown's regular season stats show him with 1,108 yards receiving.
In the final play of the first quarter, running back Rashard Mendenhall stumbled in the grass and injured his right knee. Although he was able to walk with assistance to the sideline, he wasn't able to return to the field and in the post-game press conference Mike Tomlin said that “it didn't look good”. It's possible that Mendenhall has a torn ACL and saw his final play in 2011. “You should anticipate that he won't be participating next week,” Tomlin added.
Issac Redman replaced Mendenhall, scoring a touchdown on a seven-yard rush in the third quarter. After two fumbles in the second half, rookie John Clay then carried most of the running plays. Redman finished with 19 carries for 92 yards and the only touchdown for the Steelers. Clay finished with nine carries for 31 yards.
Veteran wide receiver Hines Ward became the eighth player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career catches with five in the game. In the fourth quarter, Roethlisberger used a shovel pass to Ward to get him to the milestone even though Ward lost three yards on the catch. Ward joins Hall of Fame player Jerry Rice as the only players in the NFL to have 1,000 receptions and more than one Super Bowl championship. “It's the happiest negative-yard catch I've ever had,” Ward admitted. Ward has 12,083 career receiving yards.
Hindered by wind, kicker Shaun Suisham was able to add two field goals for the Steelers, but missed on a 45-yarder.
The biggest plus for the Steelers against the Browns was a Troy Polamalu interception with the game tied at 6-6 in the third quarter. Polamalu intercepted Seneca Wallace at the Cleveland 43 yard line and set up the Redman touchdown. Wallace was forced out of the pocket by linebacker Jason Worilds, in for an injured LaMarr Woodley. Polamalu jumped the route of tight end Evan Moore and grabbed the ball before going out of bounds.
The Steelers defense had a great game containing Wallace to 16/41 for 177 yards, 1 interception and no touchdowns. Their impressive stand kept the Browns out of the end zone and forced Cleveland to score off of the leg of Dawson. With five seconds left in the game, Wallace threw a deep pass into the end zone only to watch Polamalu leap over the top and spike the ball to the ground.
Troy Polamalu is the Pittsburgh Steelers Examiner game ball winner of the week! Congrats Troy.
Related:
Lawrence Timmons had one sack against the Browns. Ryan Clark added another.
Steelers tight end Heath Miller's two catches gave him 336 for his career as he surpassed Hall of Famer Lynn Swann.
Roethlisberger improved to 80 wins, 33 losses as a starter and is now 34-9 against AFC North opponents. Roethlisberger is 14-1 against the Browns.
The Steelers won 12 games for their second year in a row. It is the first time the franchise has done so since 1978-1979. In both of those years the Steelers won the Super Bowl.
The Steelers improved to 23-4 against Cleveland since 1999.
The Steelers enter the post-season as the number 5 seed in the AFC and will travel to Denver next week to face the Denver Broncos in one of two AFC wildcard games. Kickoff at Sports Authority Field is scheduled at 4:30 pm Eastern.
Steelers postgame press conference
Steelers vs. Browns highlights video
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