Steelers 24, Browns 20

CLEVELAND (AP) With a flick of his wrist, Ben Roethlisberger saved the Pittsburgh Steelers from a season-crushing loss. <br/><br/>Roethlisberger shoveled a 4-yard touchdown pass to Willie Parker with 32

Sunday, November 19th 2006, 3:51 pm

By: News On 6

CLEVELAND (AP) With a flick of his wrist, Ben Roethlisberger saved the Pittsburgh Steelers from a season-crushing loss.

Roethlisberger shoveled a 4-yard touchdown pass to Willie Parker with 32 seconds left, rallying the Steelers to a 24-20 win over the Cleveland Browns, who were minutes away from kicking the defending Super Bowl champions into the AFC North basement.

Roethlisberger, intercepted three times in the 1st half, threw for 272 yards, 224 in the 4th quarter, as the Steelers (4-6) avoided a defeat that would have made it almost impossible to get into the playoffs.

Big Ben made all the big plays, none as important as his flip to Parker. Roethlisberger had to shake off rookie Kamerion Wimbley before completing the TD pass, making him 20-26 in the final 15 minutes.

The Browns (3-7) spent all week talking about getting revenge for their 41-0 loss to Pittsburgh on last Christmas Eve, and for most of the day it looked like they would get it.

But Cleveland's defense couldn't stop Roethlisberger when it mattered most, and the Browns dropped their sixth straight game to their bitter rivals, who have won 12 of the last 13 between the teams.

After Roethlisberger hooked up with Parker, the Browns drove to Pittsburgh's 22. With 3 seconds left, Charlie Frye threw a jump ball to the back of the end zone that Braylon Edwards nearly grabbed in a crowd.

But when the ball fell to the ground, several of the Steelers dropped to their knees in relief. Edwards, Kellen Winslow and other Cleveland players consoled each other after another tough loss.