Steelers avoid losing season by beating Browns 24-10 in meaningless game


December 30, 2012 at 4:36p.m.

Steelers avoid losing season by beating Browns 24-10 in meaningless game

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Even at the end of a disappointing season, the Pittsburgh Steelers still know how to beat the Cleveland Browns.

Ben Roethlisberger threw three short touchdown passes, and the Steelers avoided their first losing season in nearly a decade with a 24-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Antonio Brown, Leonard Pope and Plaxico Burress scored for the Steelers (8-8), who mustered enough energy in a meaningless game to turn away the Browns. Pittsburgh’s top-ranked defense forced four turnovers as the Steelers won for just the second time in the last six weeks, a slide that knocked them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2009.