Jan 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Steelers beat the Browns 28-12. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
CLEVELAND — Pittsburgh survived three turnovers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes as the Steelers slipped into the AFC playoffs with a 28-12 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
The Steelers (10-6) earned a wild-card berth as a result of their win and the Buffalo Bills’ 22-17 victory over the New York Jets.
The Browns’ 3-13 record is their worst since 2000 when they were also 3-13. It was their 18th defeat in the last 21 games. Browns coach Mike Pettine is expected to be fired, according to numerous reports. Pettine is 10-22 in two seasons.
Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return.
Texans 30, Jaguars 6
HOUSTON — J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus combined for 6.5 sacks and Houston clinched its third AFC South title with a victory over Jacksonville.
The Texans (9-7) closed the season with three consecutive division wins for their first AFC South title since 2012. Houston, 2-5 following a loss at Miami on Oct. 25, won six of eight games following their bye week and will serve as hosts in an AFC wild-card game next weekend.
Watt and Mercilus paced a dominant defense, with Watt regaining his All-Pro form playing without a cast on his broken left hand for the first time in four games. Watt participated with thick protective padding and played like a whirling dervish with three sacks, two deflected passes, eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Mercilus had five tackles and 3.5 sacks, giving him a career-high 12 this season.
Bills 22, Jets 17
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Coach Rex Ryan’s Buffalo Bills prevented his former team from returning to the playoffs with a victory over the New York Jets.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back Karlos Williams rushed for first-half touchdowns and kicker Dan Caprenter made three field goals as the Bills ended the Jets’ five-game winning streak. Taylor was 18 of 28 passing for 182 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
The Jets (10-6) will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 16 of 37 passes for 181 yards, but threw three fourth-quarter interceptions in his first game in Buffalo since he was the Bills’ quarterback in 2012.
Dolphins 20, Patriots 10
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Ryan Tannehill passed for 350 yards and two touchdowns as Miami beat New England and prevented the Patriots from clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
The Patriots (12-4), who had already clinched a first-round bye, limp into the playoffs after losing four of their past six games and sustaining several injuries during the past month. New England played a conservative game offensively as Tom Brady completed 12 of 21 passes for 134 yards and no touchdowns. He was removed from the game for the Patriots’ final drive.
The Dolphins (6-10), finished their seventh straight season out of the playoffs. Miami hasn’t won a playoff game since 2000.
Bengals 24, Ravens 16
CINCINNATI — AJ McCarron overcame a slow start to toss two touchdown passes and Jeremy Hill rushed for 96 yards and a TD, helping Cincinnati wrap up the regular season with a victory over Baltimore.
The Bengals (12-4) reached 12 wins for the third time in franchise history. The other two seasons (1981, 1988) both resulted in Super Bowl appearances.
If the Bengals do not earn a first-round bye, they will host the AFC North division rival Steelers in the first round.
Baltimore (5-11) failed to finish the season on a positive note. Quarterback Ryan Mallett in his second Ravens start passed for 292 yards and a touchdown but also had a pair of interceptions.
Redskins 34, Cowboys 23
ARLINGTON, Texas — Kirk Cousins passed for three touchdowns and Washington, the NFC East champion, closed out the regular season by rolling past Dallas.
The Redskins (9-7) head into the playoffs on a four-game winning streak, the team’s longest since 2012. The Redskins will host a wild-card playoff game next weekend.
The Cowboys (4-12) had a merciful end to one of the worst seasons in franchise history. Injuries to quarterback Tony Romo and receiver Dez Bryant began a downward spiral one year after winning the East.
Colts 30, Titans 24
INDIANAPOLIS — Fourth- and fifth-string quarterbacks Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley each threw a touchdown pass, leading Indianapolis to a victory over Tennessee.
The win was not enough to extend the Colts’ season. Indianapolis (8-8) officially was eliminated from the playoff picture in a complicated scenario after New Orleans defeated Atlanta. Houston then clinched the AFC South with a victory against Jacksonville.
The Titans (3-13) clinched the No. 1 draft pick by losing their fourth straight. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger fell to 0-10 as a starter.
Eagles 35, Giants 30
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Philadelphia defensive back Walter Thurmond returned an interception 83 yards for a touchdown in a win over rival New York in what could have been Giants coach Tom Coughlin’s final game.
The 69-year-old Coughlin, who led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles in his 12 seasons, has a year left on his contract. The Giants (6-10) finished a third straight losing season and a fourth straight year out of the playoffs.
Interim head coach Pat Shurmur got the win for the Eagles (7-9), who fired Chip Kelly on Tuesday after the team missed the playoffs for the second straight season.
Saints 20, Falcons 17
ATLANTA — New Orleans safety Jamarca Sanford picked off Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan late in the fourth quarter, setting up Kai Forbath’s 30-yard field goal as time expired.
The Saints’ defense surrendered an NFL record 45 touchdown passes this season, a statistic that cost defensive coordinator Rob Ryan his job. But they will go into the offseason on a high note, after beating the Falcons for the second time this season.
Quarterback Drew Brees threw a touchdown pass to tight end Ben Watson, running back Tim Hightower scored on a short touchdown run, and Forbath made two field goals.
Lions 24, Bears 20
CHICAGO — If this becomes the final game with Detroit for Calvin Johnson and the final game with Chicago for Matt Forte, they both gave their fans something to remember.
The victory gave Detroit a two-game sweep of Chicago for the third consecutive year and boosted coach Jim Caldwell’s chances of keeping his job as the Lions went 6-2 the second half of the season after starting 1-7.
Johnson caught 10 passes for 137 yards, including a diving catch of a 36-yard Matt Stafford pass for a touchdown in the third quarter. Forte had 110 yards rushing and receiving, and he matched the Johnson touchdown on the next possession by doing a masterful job of tip-toeing down the sideline with a Jay Cutler screen pass for a 23-yard touchdown play that tied the game at 17.
