PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Steelers are back on top of the AFC North and just at the right time.
Pittsburgh (11-5) earned its first division title since 2010 by sweeping the season series from the Bengals (10-5-1), capped of by Sunday night’s 27-17 win.
The Bengals are the No. 5 seed in the AFC and will play at AFC South champion Indianapolis on Sunday. The Steelers are the No. 3 seed and will host Baltimore in the wild-card round Saturday night.
The Ravens snagged the last playoff spot in the AFC by beating the Browns earlier in the day.
Antonio Brown returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown and added a clinching 63-yard scoring grab with 2:50 to go in the Steelers’ 27-17 victory over the Bengals on Sunday night.
Brown had 212 all-purpose yards, including the late dazzling catch and run to the end zone.
The victory came at a potentially high cost. Running back Le’Veon Bell of Groveport left in the third quarter with a hyperextended right knee following a collision with Cincinnati safety Reggie Nelson.