CLEVELAND – Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes, Pittsburgh’s defense dominated and the Steelers slipped into the AFC playoffs with a 28-12 win over the Browns, who fired coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer.
The Steelers (10-6) had to win and needed Buffalo to knock off the New York Jets to make the postseason. Pittsburgh did its part despite a sloppy performance, and then earned a wild-card berth when the Bills shocked the Jets 22-17 in Orchard Park, New York.
Roethlisberger threw for 349 yards, 187 to the sensational Antonio Brown, who had 13 catches and a TD.
The Browns (3-13) ended another losing season in disarray and doubt. Owner Jimmy Haslam, who vowed in August that he wouldn’t “blow things up,” ousted Pettine and Farmer within hours of the final gun.
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The Browns are not commenting on a report that quarterback Johnny Manziel went to Las Vegas on the day before the season finale. Manziel was not playing Sunday against Pittsburgh following his concussion last week. He is in the NFL’s protocol on head injuries.
USA Today quoted an employee and patron who said they saw Manziel at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood on Saturday. It’s not clear if the team has a policy prohibiting players from traveling when they are out with an injury.
Manziel started six games in his second season with Cleveland. While the 23-year-old showed progress on the field, the Browns want him to address off-field issues. Manziel spent 10 weeks in a rehab facility last winter specializing in drug and alcohol abuse.
Last week, Browns coach Mike Pettine praised Manziel but said, “there are problems there.”