Steelers lock up AFC North in thrilling style
Touchdown in dying seconds completes Pittsburgh rally and eliminates Baltimore
Pittsburgh won the AFC North in spectacular fashion Sunday, scoring the winning touchdown with nine seconds remaining to beat archrival Baltimore 31-27.
Antonio Brown reached over the goal-line after taking in a short pass from Ben Roethlisberger for the 4yard score. Brown was stood up inside the1, but somehow extended the ball — barely — into the end zone.
“Right before we went out,” Brown said, “we said, ‘Let’s get the gamewinning touchdown and get out of here.’ ”
The Ravens (8-7) were officially eliminated when Joe Flacco’s pass near midfield was intercepted on the final play.
Kansas City secured a playoff berth with the Baltimore loss.
Roethlisberger finished with 279 yards passing and three touchdowns to overcome two third-quarter interceptions. Those picks allowed the Ravens to take a 20-10 lead on Justin Tucker’s fourth field goal with 14:21 to play.
“I kind of dug ourselves a hole,” Roethlisberger said. “I take all that blame. We never quit and never gave up. Guys fought back.”
Le’Veon Bell ran for 122 yards and a 7-yard touchdown that kick-started Pittsburgh’s rally during a fourth quarter that featured three lead changes in the final 7:16.
Earlier this weekend, Atlanta beat Carolina 33-16, then the Falcons clinched the NFC South title when New Orleans beat Tampa Bay 31-24. The Bucs’ loss also allowed the New York Giants, losers to Philadelphia on Thursday night, to clinch a wildcard spot. Atlanta now has a chance in its regular season finale to clinch a first-round bye after Seattle lost 3431 to Arizona.
Houston beat Cincinnati on Saturday night to clinch its second straight AFC South title after Tennessee’s 3817 loss to Jacksonville. The Texans also will host a wild-card game.
Green Bay won its fifth straight to move closer to the NFC North title, eliminating Minnesota with a 38-25 victory. The Packers moved into the lead for a wild-card berth, and now the Packers must wait to face Detroit for the division crown on Jan. 1.
Detroit is at Dallas on Monday night.
Miami beat Buffalo 34-31 in overtime to move closer to its first playoff berth since 2008. A Denver loss to Kansas City on Sunday night would give Miami the AFC’s final wild-card berth and eliminate the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos.
The Redskins (8-6-1) routed Chicago 41-21 to keep them alive a bit longer in the NFC.