Brown keys victory in clinching AFC North
PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger spoke quietly while teammates around him raucously pulled on AFC North champion T-shirts after the Steelers’ 27-17 victory over the Bengals on Sunday. Pittsburgh’s quarterback has been here before.
“Hopefully, the journey is not over,” said Roethlisberger, who fought off flu-like symptoms to complete 24 of 38 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns. “I’m not going to talk about journeys and where we are. We’re still going.”
Even if they might be a little shorthanded. Actually, make that a lot shorthanded.
The Steelers reclaimed a spot the franchise has considered practically a birthright this millennium. They turned away a late charge by Cincinnati on Antwon Blake’s timely strip of wide receiver A.J. Green and Antonio Brown’s ensuing 63-yard catch-and-run for the clinching score.
Pittsburgh (11-5) earned its first division title since 2010 and sixth since 2000 by sweeping the season series from the Bengals (10-5-1). The Steelers are the No. 3 seed in the AFC and will host Baltimore in the wild-card round Saturday night. Pittsburgh split two games with the Ravens this season, each team winning at home.
The Bengals, heading to the playoffs for a fourth straight year for the first time in franchise history, are the No. 5 seed and will play at AFC South champion Indianapolis on Sunday. Cincinnati lost to the Colts 27-0 on Oct. 19.
The Steelers’ victory could prove costly. Running back Le’Veon Bell hyperextended his right knee in the third quarter when Cincinnati safety Reggie Nelson hit Bell low at the end of a 19-yard reception. Nelson and Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin exchanged words during the postgame handshake, though both declined to get into details.
Bell, voted the club’s Most Valuable Player by his teammates last week, was on the field for several minutes. He gingerly jogged to the sideline before being taken to the locker room to chants of “MVP! MVP!”
He set a franchise record for total offense this season and has been one of the catalysts for Pittsburgh’s postseason return after a two-year absence. Pittsburgh’s backups are rookies Josh Harris and Dri Archer, who began Sunday with 50 yards rushing combined.
The Bengals had a chance to defend their division crown but couldn’t overcome three turnovers, the last the fumble by the typically sure-handed Green. The four-time Pro Bowler was dealing with concussionlike symptoms following the play, which ended with Green taking a punishing hit from Mike Mitchell just after the ball squirted free.
“We had a rough day,” Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis said. “It’s key to take care of the football. We didn’t do a very good job of it.”
Brown finished with 212 all-purpose yards, including 128 on seven receptions and a 71-yard punt return for a score in the first quarter. Brown’s 63-yard sprint down right sideline following Green’s fumble came on his 129th and final reception of the season, the second-highest single-season total in NFL history.
“Who else was going to make” the play? Tomlin said. “He needs no endorsement from me. He is who he is. I don’t think any of us are surprised when he delivers for us time and again.”