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Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is taken off the field on a stretcher after being hurt in the second quarter against the Browns on Sunday.

Cleveland, outgained 369-126, probably could have played a lot longer without scoring against a Pittsburgh defense that gave up the fewest yards and points in the NFL.

“We were so upset we had to practice on Christmas, we had to take it out on the Browns,” linebacker Larry Foote said.

After Phil Dawson missed a 53-yard field-goal try in the first quarter, the Browns gained no more than 18 yards on any possession. Bruce Gradkowski (5-of-16, 18 yards, two interceptions) didn’t complete a pass for nearly 27 minutes, except for Tyrone Carter’s 32-yard interception return touchdown.

For the Steelers, Willie Parker’s 116 yards rushing gave their sagging ground game a lift with the playoffs approaching. He had only one 100-yard game since running for 105 yards in Cleveland on Sept. 14.

Parker’s 34-yard touchdown run with 4:07 left in the second quarter broke a scoreless tie and was Pittsburgh’s longest run this season. After Roethlisberger (9-of-14, 110 yards, one interception) was lifted, backup Byron Leftwich scored on an 8-yard run to make it 14-0 with 40 seconds left in the half.

Notes: Gradkowski’s passer rating was 1.0. ... Ward’s six catches for 70 yards gave him his fifth career 1,000-yard season, his first since 2004, and a team-record 800 career receptions. ... Lewis finished with 1,002 yards. ... The 1974 Bears went 22 quarters without an offensive touchdown. ... The Steelers won their 11th in a row against the Browns. ... Crennel is 0-8 against Pittsburgh and 24-40 overall. ... The Steelers have won six of seven. ... Cleveland had only 102 yards passing in its final two games.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 9 games STEELERS 28, BRONCOS 10: Roethlisberger throws 3 TDs COWBOYS 20, EAGLES 16: Austin’s TD puts Dallas atop NFC East COLTS 20, TEXANS 17: Indy's 17th-straight regular season win  |    Video SAINTS 30, PANTHERS 20: N.O. now 8-0 for first time in its history CHARGERS 21, GIANTS 20: N.Y. loses 4th straight  |    Video BUCS 38, PACKERS 28: Rookie QB leads Tampa to first win  |    Video PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 17: Brady-Moss connection thrives  |    Video CARDINALS 41, BEARS 21: Warner tosses 5 TDs  |    Video BENGALS 17, RAVENS 7: Cincy cements AFC North status  |    Video FALCONS 31, REDSKINS 17: Atlanta gets into scuffle, still wins TITANS 34, 49ERS 27: Young improves to 2-0 as a starter this year SEAHAWKS 32, LIONS 20: Seattle overcomes 17-0 hole JAGUARS 24, CHIEFS 21: Chargers cast-off Chambers can't save K.C. Byes: Bills, Browns, Raiders, Rams, Vikings, Jets

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