Steelers beat up on Redskins, 23-6

Byron Leftwich led two touchdown drives after Ben Roethlisberger re-injured his throwing shoulder and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Washington Redskins, 23-6, on Monday night at Landover, Md.

The Steelers’ top-rated defense had seven sacks, gave up only 221 yards and became the first team this season to intercept one of Jason Campbell’s passes.

Leftwich was seven for 10 for 129 yards and a touchdown as the Steelers (6-2) beat an NFC East team for the first time in three tries this season.

Roethlisberger was five for 17 for 50 yards with an interception before leaving at halftime, again hindered by the slightly separated shoulder that has bothered him since the second week of the season.

Leftwich’s 50-yard completion to Nate Washington set up a one-yard touchdown run by Willie Parker, who returned from a four-week layoff because of a knee injury. Leftwich also threw a five-yard scoring pass to Santonio Holmes, who returned after being benched the previous week over a charge for a marijuana-related offense.

The Steelers limited Clinton Portis to 51 yards rushing, ending his streak of five consecutive games with at least 120 yards.

Washington (6-3) came close to scoring a touchdown only once -- when Campbell threw incomplete to eligible lineman Lorenzo Alexander on fourth and goal at the one-yard line in the fourth quarter.

Campbell, who finished 24 for 43 for 206 yards, thought he had scored on a scramble on the previous play, but a replay challenge showed he was down just before the goal line.

While the Steelers remain atop the AFC North, the Redskins lost ground in the NFC East to the New York Giants. Washington heads into its open week needing to tweak an offense that has put together promising drives all season but has often struggled to score.

Campbell’s streak without throwing an interception reached 271 attempts -- 249 this season -- before cornerback Deshea Townsend grabbed a pass tipped by Portis late in the third quarter.

Culpepper to sign

Former Pro Bowl quarterback Daunte Culpepper has agreed to a two-year deal with the Detroit Lions (0-8) and said he would sign it after taking a physical. . . . Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton was undergoing more tests on his right ankle to determine the extent of the injury he suffered Sunday in a victory over the Lions. . . . Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub injured a knee ligament and will be out at least two weeks and possibly up to a month. Coach Gary Kubiak said doctors were still trying to determine the severity of the injury, suffered Sunday in a loss to Minnesota, and added that Schaub was on crutches Monday.