CLEVELAND – Ben Roethlisberger looked up in the fourth quarter and noticed Pittsburgh fans twirling their Terrible Towels with delight.
The Steelers needed help, and they got it.
They’re still in the hunt for another Super Bowl title.
Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes, Pittsburgh’s defense dominated and the Steelers slipped into the AFC playoffs with a 28-12 win Sunday over the Cleveland Browns, who fired both coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer a few hours after the game.
Needing a win and Buffalo to knock off the New York Jets to make the postseason, the Steelers (10-6) got both.
Leading comfortably in the closing minutes, Roethlisberger heard the crowd roar.
“I assumed there was a fight or a Steelers fan was beating up a Browns fan,” he said with a laugh. “When I saw the towels getting out I kind of assumed what was going on. A lot of thanks to coach Ryan and the rest of the Bills and everybody in Buffalo. I know they’re excited about 8-8 and we’re excited they got us in.”
Pittsburgh’s bumpy season — the Steelers overcame suspensions, injuries and a shocking loss last week in Baltimore — will continue with at least one more game. As usual, Roethlisberger did his part, throwing for 349 yards, including 187 to sensational wide receiver Antonio Brown, who had 13 catches and a TD.
“It’s been a tough, 16-week fight for us, but we’re where we want to be,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’re where we need to be.”
The Browns (3-13) ended another losing season in disarray. Owner Jimmy Haslam, who vowed in August that he wouldn’t “blow things up” did just that, ousting Pettine and Farmer after two disappointing seasons. Pettine went 10-22 during his two-year stint with Cleveland, losing 18 of his final 21 games.
Pettine wasn’t surprised by reports he was on his way out.
“I’m not into pleading,” he said. “That to me is the resume: how hard the guys play, the effort that goes in, how hard we practice, what we do in meeting time, walkthrough, out on the practice field, how that carries over to the game field. I feel like we’ve done a lot of good things, but I’m the first one to tell you this is a pass/fail league, and the results aren’t there.”
The Steelers sacked the Browns’ Austin Davis, starting in place of Johnny Manziel, seven times.
With Cleveland down just 17-12 in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh’s defense came up with the game’s biggest play as linebacker Lawrence Timmons dropped Davis, who fumbled inside the 10-yard line. Linebacker Arthur Moats recovered, and on the next play, Roethlisberger completed an 8-yard TD pass to Markus Wheaton.
All that was left was for the Bills to help out.
And when Buffalo completed its win over the Jets, the Steelers were back in the postseason. They hugged and high-fived on the sideline and thousands of Pittsburgh fans celebrated as the black-and-gold earned the right to play for the NFL championship in the Super Bowl’s golden anniversary season.
“It’s so gratifying,” said Brown, who finished with 136 catches for 1,834 yards. “Sitting here as a Pittsburgh Steeler, that’s the expectation to make the playoffs and hoist the Lombardi Trophy. We continue to stay together no matter what people say.”
The loss in Baltimore had severely damaged the Steelers’ playoff chances, but Roethlisberger made sure there wouldn’t be another costly misstep.
Big Ben finished 24 of 36 and improved to 19-2 over Cleveland.
There was one hiccup as Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams left in the first half with an ankle injury. Tomlin said Williams will be evaluated, and would not rule him out of the postseason.
Travis Coons kicked four field goals for the Browns, who are undergoing more change. Pettine had two years left on his contract, but Haslam and his wife, Dee, aren’t happy with the direction of their franchise. The Browns haven’t been to the playoffs since 2002, and have undergone five changes to their coach and GM since 2008.
Following the game, star tackle Joe Thomas said he might not want to return.
“We’ll have to see what happens,” said the nine-time Pro Bowler.
Beyond the team’s many on-field issues, Manziel, who was sidelined with a concussion, continues to be a distraction. The polarizing QB was reportedly spotted in Las Vegas instead of being with his teammates for the finale, not a good look for the 23-year-old or the Browns.
PANTHERS 38,
BUCCANEERS 10
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more, and Carolina captured the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time.
Newton tied Steve Young’s NFL record for most career TDs rushing by a quarterback with 43. Young took 15 seasons to reach that plateau; Newton did it in five.
Newton completed 21 of 26 passes for 293 yards as Carolina (15-1) overcame a slow start to build a 31-3 lead in the third quarter.
Rookie Devin Funchess had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown and Cameron Artis-Payne ran for 44 yards and a score as Carolina won its 11th straight home game.
Jameis Winston was intercepted twice, and the Bucs (6-10) finished last in the NFC South for the fourth time in five years.
BRONCOS 27,
CHARGERS 20
DENVER — Peyton Manning replaced Brock Osweiler in the third quarter Sunday and led the Broncos a 27-20 win over the San Diego Chargers that clinched the top seed in the AFC playoffs for Denver.
Combined with New England’s loss at Miami, the Broncos (12-4) secured the No. 1 seed even as they head into the playoffs with a quarterback quandary on their hands.
The Chargers (4-12) wrapped up what might have been their final season representing San Diego as ownership tries to move the team to L.A.
The Broncos were facing the possibility of tumbling into the wild-card round because of Kansas City’s 10th consecutive win, 23-17 over Oakland, when Manning came to the rescue.
BENGALS 24,
RAVENS 16
CINCINNATI — AJ McCarron overcame a rough start and threw a pair of touchdown passes.
The Bengals (12-4) matched the best record in franchise history — they also won 12 games during the 1981 and 1988 seasons when they reached the Super Bowl.
Cincinnati will host Pittsburgh next weekend in a wild-card game.
The AFC North champions wasted a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed when they lost in Denver 20-17 on Monday night.
The Ravens finished 5-11.
BILLS 22,
JETS 17
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Ryan Fitzpatrick threw interceptions on each of New York’s final three drives and the Jets’ playoff hopes were dashed.
The Jets (10-6) would have made the postseason for the first time since 2010 with a win, but the defeat combined with Pittsburgh’s win at Cleveland ended those hopes. New York had a five-game winning streak stopped, and the loss came against former Jets coach Rex Ryan — fired by New York and hired by the Bills (8-8) last January.
Fitzpatrick, who had thrown just one interception in the Jets’ winning streak, was picked off by Leodis McKelvin in the end zone early in the fourth quarter with New York driving.
The game was decided when Fitzpatrick’s side-arm pass over the middle was intercepted by A.J. Tarpley with 11 seconds remaining.
SEAHAWKS 36,
CARDINALS 6
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes in a second-quarter outburst and Seattle snapped Arizona’s nine-game winning streak.
Seattle will play at either Washington or Minnesota in the wild card round next weekend, depending on the outcome of Sunday night’s game between the Vikings and Green Bay.
The Seahawks (10-6) dominated from their opening possession and led 30-6 at the half.
It was a sour end to the regular season for the NFC West champion Cardinals (13-3), who already had clinched the NFC’s No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye.
Tyler Lockett set up three of Seattle’s four first-half touchdowns — with punt returns of 66 and 42 yards and a 36-yard reception.
DOLPHINS 20,
PATRIOTS 10
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tom Brady was sacked twice and knocked down at least half a dozen times, and New England missed a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Brady watched New England’s final offensive series from the sideline. With the Patriots eager to protect his health, he threw a season-low 21 passes, but even so was lucky to make it through the game in one piece.
New England (12-4) ends up as a No. 2 seed after Denver defeated San Diego to earn the top seed.
The Dolphins (6-10) wrapped up a disappointing season and are expected to embark on a search for their ninth coach since 2004.
TEXANS 30,
JAGUARS 6
HOUSTON — J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus led the defense and Jonathan Grimes scored twice to help the Texans clinch the AFC South.
Houston will host Kansas City next weekend in the a wild-card game.
Grimes had a 12-yard touchdown reception and added a 3-yard rushing score in the second quarter to help Houston take a 20-3 lead by halftime. Kareem Jackson added a score on an interception return in the fourth quarter to pad the lead.
Watt, playing without a cast for the first time since breaking his left hand Dec. 9, had had three sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another one to help the Texans (9-7) to their first division title and playoff berth since 2012.
Blake Bortles threw for 239 yards with two interceptions for the Jaguars (5-11)
CHIEFS 23,
RAIDERS 17
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes, Kansas City sacked Derek Carr six times, and the Chiefs collected a franchise-best 10th straight win.
The Chiefs are headed to Houston for a wild-card game next weekend after Denver won the AFC West with its win over San Diego.
Regardless, the Chiefs (11-5) are somehow in the dance after a 1-5 start.
The Raiders (7-9), who accounted for two of those victories, had the ball with 1:34 left. But Carr was sacked one last time, and the clock expired before they came close to a go-ahead touchdown.
EAGLES 35,
GIANTS 30
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants suffered another tough loss in what may have been Tom Coughlin’s final game.
Former Giant Walter Thurmond scored on an 83-yard fumble return in the third quarter and Philadelphia added to Coughlin’s season-long frustrations.
It was the third straight loss for the Giants (6-10) and finished a third straight losing season and a fourth straight year out of the playoffs.
After meeting with Eagles interim coach Pat Shurmur at midfield, Coughlin walked off the field, waving to the crowd just before walking into the tunnel.
Coughlin, who led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles in his 12 seasons, has a year left on his contract. His future is expected to be decided soon by co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch.
The 69-year-old might retire and end his 20-year NFL head coaching career.
REDSKINS 34,
COWBOYS 23
ARLINGTON, Texas — Kirk Cousins threw for three touchdowns before leaving late in the first half of a playoff tuneup.
Cousins broke Jay Shroeder’s franchise record for yards passing in a season, finishing with 4,166. Had the game mattered, he might have threatened Sonny Jurgensen’s 48-year-old team record of 31 touchdown passes, instead settling for 29.
The Redskins (9-7) won four straight to finish the season, their longest streak since winning the last seven the last time they made the playoffs in 2012. The NFC East champions will be the No. 4 seed on wild-card weekend.
Kellen Moore had 435 yards passing and three touchdowns after throwing an interception and losing a fumble on a snap to help dig a quick 21-0 hole for the Cowboys (4-12).
COLTS 30,
TITANS 24
INDIANAPOLIS — Recently signed Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley each threw a touchdown pass in the first half and Jerrell Freeman scored on a 23-yard interception in the second for the Colts.
The Colts (8-8) won their last two games to avoid the first losing season since 2011, but didn’t get the help they needed — a Houston loss and seven other games to go the right way — to make the postseason.
Josh Freeman was 15 of 28 for 149 yards and one interception while running Indy’s regular offense. Lindley ran the 2-minute offense and gave Indy a 20-14 halftime lead with an 18-yard TD pass.
Tennessee (3-13) clinched the No. 1 draft pick by losing its fourth straight. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger fell to 0-10 as a starter.
SAINTS 20,
FALCONS 17
ATLANTA — Jamarca Sanford’s interception at the Atlanta 25 with less than two minutes remaining set up Kai Forbath’s 30-yard field goal as time expired.
Sanford cut in front of Devonta Freeman for the interception with 1:47 remaining.
It was the Saints’ sixth sweep of the season series with the Falcons in 10 years under coach Sean Payton. Payton is 15-5 against Atlanta.
The loss denied the Falcons (8-8) their chance to give first-year coach Dan Quinn a winning record. The Saints (7-9) avoided giving coach Sean Payton his first 10-loss season.
Drew Brees threw for 323 yards, including a touchdown pass to Ben Watson.
Julio Jones had nine catches for 149 yards for Atlanta.
LIONS 24,
BEARS 20
CHICAGO — Matthew Stafford threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns, Calvin Johnson had 137 yards receiving for the Lions.
Detroit (7-9) avoided a last-place finish in the NFC North with its sixth win in eight games. Whether the Lions bring back coach Jim Caldwell for a third season remains to be seen.
He led them to a rare playoff appearance last year, but a 1-7 start put his future in doubt.
Caldwell survived a midseason purge that saw offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi get fired and ownership drop the ax on president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew the following week.
The Lions intercepted Jay Cutler three times.
49ERS 19,
RAMS 16 OT
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Phil Dawson kicked a 23-yard field goal 11:33 into overtime for his fourth of the game to lift San Francisco in what might have been Jim Tomsula’s last game as coach.
Dawson came through after Greg Zuerlein’s 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Dontae Johnson, giving San Francisco the ball back with 4:49 to play.
Blaine Gabbert passed for 354 yards and a 33-yard touchdown for the 49ers (5-11), who avoided their worst finish since 4-12 in 2005.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher finished 7-9 for his fourth straight losing season running the team.
VIKINGS 20,
PACKERS 13
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North by holding on for a 20-13 win Sunday night over the Green Bay Packers.
Adrian Peterson ran for a touchdown, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn returned a fumble 55 yards for a score, and Minnesota (11-5) claimed its first division title since 2009.
The Vikings will host the Seattle Seahawks for a wild-card playoff game next weekend. The Packers (10-6) will travel to Washington after watching their four-year reign atop the NFC North end.
The upstart Vikings survived despite a shaky finish in hostile territory. The defense knocked away a desperation pass in the end zone from Aaron Rodgers on fourth down as time expired.
Packers kicker Mason Crosby forced a fumble on Cordarrelle Patterson’s potentially field-flipping 70-yard kickoff return with 5:21 left. But the Packers’ next drive ended with Rodgers’ pass being intercepted in the end zone by Xavier Rhodes.