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Steelers edge Browns, settle for wild card

Jan 2, 2012 - 3:33 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Isaac Redman had the go-ahead, seven-yard TD run in the third quarter and the Pittsburgh Steelers hung on for a 13-9 win over the Cleveland Browns.

However, the Steelers (12-4) were unable to clinch the AFC North Division and the AFC's No. 2 seed due to Baltimore's 24-16 win over Cincinnati on Sunday.

Pittsburgh, instead, will be relegated to the fifth seed in the AFC and a trip to Denver in the wild-card round next Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (et).

After being held out of last Saturday's 27-0 rout of St. Louis, Ben Roethlisberger played the full 60 minutes on Sunday despite a high ankle sprain he suffered during Pittsburgh's 14-3 win over Cleveland on December 8.

Roethlisberger completed 23-of-40 passes for 221 yards.

Redman came on to replace Rashard Mendenhall after he injured his right knee on the final play of the first quarter. Redman finished with 92 yards on 19 carries, but fumbled twice in the fourth quarter. Mendenhall racked up 38 yards on the ground before exiting.

"It's not good, of course, when a guy goes down in open grass and is not touched by anyone," Tomlin said.

Mendenhall's status is unknown for next weekend's playoff game. The Steelers will examine him when the team gets home from Cleveland.

Colt McCoy missed his third consecutive game due to a concussion suffered against the Steelers. Seneca Wallace got the start and completed just 16-of-41 passes for 177 yards and an interception for Cleveland (4-12), which lost its final six games to close the season.

"They battled hard and we had a chance at the end with one throw to win the game," Cleveland head coach Pat Shurmur said.

Troy Polamalu intercepted Wallace on the third play of Cleveland's opening series of the second half as the Steelers took over at the Browns' 43.

Redman concluded the quick six-play, 43-yard drive by scampering in from seven yards out to give the Steelers their first lead of the game, 13-6, with 5:27 remaining in the third quarter.

Cleveland added a field goal on its ensuing series as Phil Dawson's 49 yarder split the uprights.

Two fourth quarter fumbles by Redman gave Cleveland some hope, but ultimately, the Steelers' defense stood tall against the inept offense of the Browns.

Chris Gocong forced a Redman fumble early in the fourth quarter, and Eric Hagg made the recovery for Cleveland at its own 42. Wallace's pass intended for Greg Little fell incomplete on 3rd-and-12 from the Steelers' 34, and the Browns were forced to punt.

Redman's second miscue came with 5:49 left as he lost the football while trying to fight for extra yardage along the right sideline. Joe Haden pounced on the loose ball at Cleveland's 39.

However, the Browns picked up just a single first down before punting the football away again.

The Steelers regained possession at their own 11 with 4:59 to go. Pittsburgh ran 3:13 off the clock before punting the ball back to Cleveland.

With no timeouts left, the Browns got the ball back at their own 24. They moved the ball to Pittsburgh's 24, but Wallace's Hail Mary fell incomplete as time expired.

Two Dawson field goals accounted for the only scoring for Cleveland in the first half.

The Steelers, meanwhile, did not get on the board until time expired in the half as Shaun Suisham nailed a 19-yard field goal to make it a 6-3 game at the break.

Pittsburgh was unable to pick up a 3rd-and-9 deep in Cleveland territory on its first possession of the second half, and Suisham split the uprights from 29 yards out to tie the game, 6-6.

Game Notes

Hines Ward made his 1,000th career reception...Antonio Brown had six catches for 90 yards...Pittsburgh has won 16 of its last 17 games against the Browns...The Steelers outgained the Browns, 360-240...Pittsburgh converted 8-of-16 third downs while the Browns were 4-of-14 on third down...The Steelers have won at least 12 games in three of the last four years.