Steelers pound Browns 41-9

Steelers pound Browns 41-9

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace catches a 56-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Ben Roethlisberger began the regular season sitting out. He and the Pittsburgh Steelers ended it sitting atop the AFC North - again.

Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes as the Steelers geared up for another Super Bowl run by winning their division and securing a first-round playoff bye with a 41-9 win Sunday over Cleveland, in what may have been the final game for Eric Mangini as Browns coach.

Roethlisberger, who got to rest most of the second half, threw a 56-yard TD to Mike Wallace on his first pass. The Steelers (11-5) built a 31-3 halftime lead and rocked the rival Browns (5-11), who didn't put up much of a fight in their finale - and maybe Mangini's.

In winning its third division title in four years, Pittsburgh guaranteed itself at least one postseason home game.

Mangini fell to 10-22 in two seasons. On Monday, he's scheduled to meet with team president Mike Holmgren, who may fire him and appoint himself coach. When the game ended, Mangini unfolded his arms and was consoled by defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who will reportedly interview for Carolina's opening.

It was the third division title in four years for the Steelers (11-5), and their fifth since the NFL was realigned nine years ago. Before that, they won six of the last 10 when they dominated the AFC Central.

Roethlisberger spent the first four weeks this season serving a four-game suspension - cut from six by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell - for violating the league's personal conduct policy. There was no telling how the Steelers would do with Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch filling in at quarterback.

But the Steelers went 3-1 without their leader, and in his first game back, he threw three TD passes in a 28-10 win over Cleveland on Oct. 17. Not only did Roethlisberger return as the same physical talent, but he came back a more mature person.

Big Ben, now more at peace with himself, has hardly been better.

He finished 15 of 22 for 280 yards and has gone 158 consecutive attempts without throwing an interception, the longest streak of his career and further evidence of a composure Roethlisberger didn't always have. Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Roethlisberger is a better teammate and was recently given an award by Pittsburgh writers for his cooperation with the media.

With the Steelers leading 38-3, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin rested Roethlisberger with 5:34 left in the third quarter.

It was time to start planning for the playoffs. But before Tomlin could get all his starters some rest, rookie center Maurkice Pouncey suffered a neck stinger. Earlier, starting left cornerback Bryant McFadden injured his groin and did not return.

Otherwise, the Steelers looked as they have all season and appear to poised for another Super Bowl run.

The Steelers came in tied for first with Baltimore and had a lot riding on the outcome. Not only did they make sure there wasn't a slip-up, they avenged last season's 13-6 loss in Cleveland, when a one-win Browns team sacked Roethlisberger eight times.

Mendenhall's two short TD bursts and Roethlisberger's scoring passes to Wallace and Heath Miller gave the Steelers a 28-3 lead in the second quarter. They pushed it to 38-3 in the third on wide receiver Antwaan Randle El's 3-yard TD pass to Hines Ward.

Cleveland's fourth straight loss was likely the final straw for Mangini. The Browns improved in several statistical areas during his second season, but finished with an identical record and went just 2-6 following a 34-14 upset of New England on Nov. 17.

Holmgren confirmed before the game that he will discuss Mangini's future with him early Monday. It doesn't look good for Mangini, who returned to Cleveland - he began his career as a media relations intern in the early 1990s - after being fired by the New York Jets.

Mangini's fate seemed sealed before kickoff, but if Holmgren needed another reason, this was it. The Browns were no competition for their next-door neighbors from Pennsylvania. Mangini dropped to 2-10 in division games, and after being close in nearly every game, his Browns were blown out for the first time all season.

Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy was intercepted three times and sacked four. He ended up 20 of 41 for 209 yards - much of it in garbage time. He did throw a 20-yard TD pass to Brian Robiskie in the fourth quarter.

The Browns didn't have a running game to fall back on with Peyton Hillis nursing sore ribs, leaving McCoy little hope against the Steelers' relentless pass rush. Hillis had six carries for 13 yards as the Browns picked up just 39 against the league's stingiest rush defense.

The Steelers struck quickly, scoring the first time Roethlisberger handled the ball.

Pittsburgh star Troy Polamalu, who missed two games with an Achilles' injury, picked off McCoy's second pass, which was tipped by tight end Benjamin Watson, at the Pittsburgh 44. From there, Roethlisberger dropped back and sent a high pass for Wallace, who split two Cleveland defenders and hauled in his 10th TD - just 43 seconds into the game.

Pittsburgh went up 14-0 later in the first on Mendenhall's 1-yard plunge. His second short TD made it 21-3 with 7:51 left before halftime, and sent even some of the most die-hard Browns fans toward their cars for another painful drive home.

Cleveland's Phil Dawson kicked a 19-yard field goal in the second quarter. The only player left from the 1999 expansion team, Dawson has likely played his final game for the Browns. The team's career leader in field goals, he's a free agent and will probably sign elsewhere.