Steelers blast Browns 41-9

January 2, 2011 at 5:15p.m.

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes and the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North to secure a first-round playoff bye with a 41-9 win over Cleveland on Sunday, in what could be 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.

Read the stories in Monday’s Vindicator and vindy.com.