It was a simple task for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday: beat the Cleveland Browns, and you’ve won the AFC North and secured a first-round bye in the NFL playoffs. That’s exactly what the Steelers did in Cleveland, blowing out the Browns 41-9.
NFL Week 17 Scores And Results: Steelers Wrap Up Division Title By Blowing Out Browns
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Antwaan Randle-El threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward. Rashard Mendenhall added two scores of his own, even though the Browns held him to just 36 rushing yards on 14 carries. Pittsburgh’s league-best defense forced three turnovers - all interceptions of Colt McCoy - in the blowout win, with Troy Polamalu pulling in the first of those three picks.
Cleveland, which at one point was 5-7, ends its 2010 campaign with a 5-11 record after dropping its last four contests. Eric Mangini was on the hot seat entering Week 17, and if early reports are accurate, he may be out as Mike Holmgren’s head coach of choice.
Pittsburgh finishes the regular season at 12-4. They’ve won the AFC North, and they’ll be resting as the Wild Card playoff round unfolds next weekend.
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