All the Steelers had to do in Week 17 to win the AFC North and earn the AFC’s No. 2 see and a first round bye was beat the Browns.
NFL Playoffs: Steelers Clinch AFC North, Second Seed With Win
That proved a fairly simple task.
The Steelers routed the Browns, 38-7, as Ben Roethlisberger threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns and Antwaan Randle El threw a touchdown to Hines Ward on a trick play.
With the win, the Steelers have earned the second seed in the AFC, and will host the highest remaining seed in two weeks at Heinz Field.
The rest should help the Steelers, and Roethlisberger in particular. The quarterback has taken a beating this season, and a foot injury threatened to keep him out of games earlier this year. Two weeks of rest may help him get back into shape for a run at a third Super Bowl.
The Steelers’ win and AFC North title relegates the Ravens and Jets to wild card spots. The Steelers could have fallen all the way to the sixth seed with a loss.
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