Cleveland Browns 14-26 Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger wins his last home game to keep Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes alive | NFL News

Pittsburgh pass T.J. Watt records a career-high four of his team’s nine sacks on the night to take the league lead with 21.5 on the season, placing him just shy – with one game still to play – of the official all-time record set by Michael Strahan for the Giants in 2001

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger waves to fans before he leaves Heinz Field for likely the last time

Ben Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass in what was likely his final home game in Pittsburgh and the Steelers kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 26-14 victory over the already-eliminated Cleveland Browns on Monday night.

Story of the Game

Though Roethlisberger was the focus going into the game, and during emotional scenes at the end where he appeared to bid an emotional farewell to his adoring fans, it was the efforts of rookie running back Najee Harris and the Pittsburgh defensive line – and specifically pass rusher extraordinaire T.J. Watt – that dazzled on the night.

Watt recorded a career-high four of his team’s nine sacks as he took over the league lead with 21.5 on the season, placing him just shy – with one game still to play – of the official all-time record set by Michael Strahan for the New York Giants in 2001

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Harris, meanwhile, rushed for a career-best 188 yards on 28 carries, breaking the Steelers franchise’s single-season rookie rushing record, his 1,172 yards passing Hall of Famer Franco Harris’ 1,055 in 1972. Harris iced Pittsburgh’s win by breaking free for a 37-yard rushing touchdown in the final minute.

Rookie Najee Harris returned 188 rushing yards off 28 carries, including a 37-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter

Roethlisberger threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson in the second quarter but, if this was indeed to be the 39-year-old’s last ever game in front of his home fans at Heinz Field, it was far from his best outing as he completed just 24 of his 46 attempts for a season-low mark of 123 yards.

The two-time Super Bowl winner with the Steelers, who turns 40 in March, has not officially announced his retirement from the NFL, but in the build-up to this game he did say “that all signs are pointing to this could be it”. The quarterback moved into fifth place on the NFL’s all-time passing yards list on December 19 and he owns most of Pittsburgh’s franchise passing records, including for completions (5,386), yards (63,721) and touchdowns (416).

Browns QB Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, endured a tough evening, going 16 of 38 for 185 yards, being sacked nine times, along with throwing two touchdowns – to David Njoku and Harrison Bryant – and two interceptions.

Chris Boswell was successful with four field goal attempts to see the Steelers open up a 19-7 lead inside the final six minutes of the contest. Though the Browns made it a five-point game with little over a minute left after Mayfield’s second scoring strike of the day, any hope of a remarkable comeback was soon quashed as Pittsburgh recovered the ensuing onside kick and Harris went off to the races three plays later.

With victory, the Steelers (8-7-1) are guaranteed again to finish the season .500 or above. They’ve still yet to return a losing record in any of head coach Mike Tomlin’s 15 seasons in charge of the team.

T.J. Watt recorded a career-high four sacks to see him move to within one of Michael Strahan’s all-time record

Stats Leaders

Browns

• Passing: Baker Mayfield, 16/38, 185 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
• Rushing: Nick Chubb, 12 carries, 58 yards
• Receiving: Donovan Peoples-Jones, three catches, 76 yards

Steelers

• Passing: Ben Roethlisberger, 24/46, 123 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Rushing: Najee Harris, 28 carries, 188 yards, 1 TD
• Receiving: Diontae Johnson, eight catches, 31 yards, 1 TD

Scoring Summary

What’s Next?

In order to make the playoffs, Pittsburgh (8-7-1) must win at the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) – who are also still in the hunt for a postseason berth – on the final Sunday of the regular season, while they also need the Indianapolis Colts (9-7) to lose at the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14) and hope that the Los Angeles Chargers (9-7) game with the Las Vegas Raiders (9-7) does not end in a tie.

As for the Browns (7-9), they were already eliminated from contention prior to Monday night’s game and their disappointing campaign comes to a close as they host the AFC North division-clinching Cincinnati Bengals (10-6).

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