Steelers lock in finals bye
BEN Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes and Pittsburgh clinched a first-round NFL playoff bye by routing Houston Texans 34-6.
The Steelers matched New England atop the American Conference at 12-3 but Pittsburgh can only take the top-seed spot by beating Cleveland (0-15) next Sunday and have the Patriots lose to the Jets (5-10).
The Eagles (12-2) were set to host Oakland (6-8) later needing a victory to clinch the National Conference overall home-field playoff advantage.