PITTSBURGH — So close to securing a division title, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t need any tension, drama or surprises after a short week of preparation. The Carolina Panthers certainly couldn’t provide any.
Ben Roethlisberger showed off Pittsburgh’s deep passing game and the Steelers inched closer to a division title and a first-round playoff bye, beating the Panthers 27-3 on Thursday night.
Pittsburgh (11-4) will wrap up the AFC North and the bye if it beats Cleveland on Jan. 2. The Browns (5-9) could end the division race even earlier than that if they upset the Ravens (10-4) at home on Sunday.
“There’s some hardware out there for us, the AFC North title, and that more than anything is what we’re focused on,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
Roethlisberger found Mike Wallace on a 43-yard scoring play and Emmanuel Sanders on a 35-yard completion to set up Rashard Mendenhall’s 1-yard touchdown run as the Steelers opened a 20-0 halftime lead. Roethlisberger finished 22-of-32 for 320 yards and no interceptions.
The Steelers outgained the Panthers (2-13) by a more than 3-to-1 margin while controlling the line of scrimmage, the clock and a Jimmy Clausen-led Carolina offense.
The Panthers couldn’t throw and couldn’t run while being outgained 408-119. Jonathan Stewart, who had averaged 115 yards in his previous four games, was held to 71 yards, while Clausen went 10-of-23 for 72 yards.
“It’s good to be in the clubhouse before everyone else this weekend with a necessary win,” Tomlin said.
