Steelers... 31 Browns... 28

PITTSBURGH -- The Cleveland Browns did almost everything possible to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. They seized a 15-point lead, forced a key turnover and twice got long kickoff returns from Joshua Cribbs, even as the Steelers tried to kick away from him.

What the Browns couldn’t defend was, of all things, Ben Roethlisberger’s legs in Pittsburgh’s 31-28 victory.

Roethlisberger scrambled 30 yards for a touchdown during Pittsburgh’s second-half rally, then set up his go-ahead two-yard touchdown pass to Heath Miller with a third-down run.

In a game that meant a two-game swing in the AFC North -- the Browns (5-4) would have tied the Steelers (7-2) -- Roethlisberger’s big second half helped the Steelers beat the Browns for the ninth consecutive time despite falling behind, 21-6, in the first half.

Quoteworthy: All I ever hear is about [Tom] Brady and Peyton [Manning], but this guy we have here is very special.” -- Brett Keisel, Steelers defensive end on Ben Roethlisberger