CLEVELAND — Ben Roethlisberger looked up in the fourth quarter and noticed Pittsburgh fans twirling their Terrible Towels with delight.
The Steelers needed help, and they got it.
They're still in the hunt for another Super Bowl title.
Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes, Pittsburgh's defense dominated and the Steelers slipped into the AFC playoffs with a 28-12 win Sunday over the Cleveland Browns, who are expected to fire coach Mike Pettine.
Needing a win and Buffalo to knock off the New York Jets to make the postseason, the Steelers (10-6) got both.
Leading comfortably in the closing minutes, Roethlisberger heard the crowd roar.