Big Ben is 19-4 against Cleveland, including an 8-2 mark at FirstEnergy Stadium, which will have a large number of Terrible Towel-waving Steelers fans on hand.
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“I’ve got a lot of friends over there, and I want them to be successful, but not at my expense”, Ryan said. The black-and-gold had earned the right to play for the National Football League championship in the Super Bowl’s golden anniversary season.
Following a 28-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their season finale on Sunday, the Cleveland Browns announced they officially fired head coach Mike Pettine.
Pittsburgh came in with a record of 9-6, vying for a playoff spot, needing a win and a New York Jets loss to secure a postseason birth. They will play at AFC North victor Cincinnati on Saturday night.
As Pittsburgh was closing out another win over the rival Browns, Roethlisberger heard the crowd roar without anything happening on the field.
“I assumed there was a fight or a Steelers fan was beating up a Browns fan”, he said with a laugh. “I kind of assumed what was going on”. NY had a five-game winning streak stopped, and it came against former Jets coach Rex Ryan, who was sacked by NY and hired by the Bills (8-8) last January.
The Pittsburgh Steelers found a way into the playoff conversation and that changes everything.
Roethlisberger threw for 349 yards, 187 to the sensational Antonio Brown, who had 13 catches and a TD. Coach Mike Tomlin said it has not been determined how serious an injury, but Williams left the locker room with his right foot in a protective walking boot. “We’re where we need to be”. If Pettine is let go by owner Jimmy Haslam, Cleveland will begin searching for its eighth coach since 1999. Pettine went 10-22 during his two-year stint, losing 18 of his final 21 games.
“It should be a topic of speculation, given what our results have been”, Pettine told reporters.
“That’s my guy”, Foster said.
And beyond their many on-field issues, Manziel, who was sidelined with a concussion, continued to be a distraction. Robertson returned the ball 38 yards to the Pittsburgh 9, but on third-and-goal from the 5, a pass from Browns quarterback Austin Davis was intercepted by linebacker James Harrison on the goal line.
The Steelers were stopped on their first possession but marched 70 yards the second time they had the ball and scored on a 2-yard pass from Roethlisberger to tight end Heath Miller for a 7-0 lead.
All that was left was for the Bills to help out.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 10-6, thanks to the win, and are ready for the postseason.
The Steelers forced four turnovers Sunday – two interceptions and two fumbles by the Browns. For example, six years ago, on January 3, 2010, Pittsburgh needed help to to make the playoffs and that help wasn’t forthcoming.
“We don’t know the extent of that”, said Tomlin.
Roethlisberger was asked if the fans gave him indication they made the playoffs.
The Browns have whiffed on high draft picks, wasted money on a defense that showed little improvement, and remain at the bottom of one of the NFL’s toughest divisions.
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The Steelers lost running back DeAngelo Williams in the first half with an ankle injury. The 29-yard kick was Travis Coons’ fourth field goal of the game.
