Advanced Search
Business | Metro | Nation | World | Sports | Features | Specials | Delta Stories
 
 
Steelers, Panthers clinch divisions
16/12/2008 10:31

The Pittsburgh Steelers asserted themselves as the National Football League's top defense to win the American Football Conference North. The Carolina Panthers took their division title with another outburst of offense.

In a meeting of the league's top two defenses, Pittsburgh got a late touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to grit out a 13-9 win on Sunday - the Steelers' first in Baltimore since 2002.

"They got a big sack when they had to at the end of the game...then took the ball down the field and scored," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "That's the way they've won games."

It was by the slimmest of margins. Holmes' catch was reviewed because it appeared that while Holmes' feet were in the end zone, the ball was not.

Later, referee Walt Coleman said, "He had two feet down. When he gained control of the ball, the ball was breaking the plane."

The Panthers got another standout performance from running back DeAngelo Williams, whose cutback 56-yard run helped them to a 30-10 win over the Denver Broncos. Steve Smith had nine catches for 165 yards and a TD.

In Sunday's other NFL games, it was: Cowboys 20, Giants 8; Colts 31, Lions 21; Texans 13, Titans 12; Vikings 35, Cardinals 14; Heat 14, 49ers 9; Jets 31, Bills 27; Patriots 49, Raiders 26; Falcons 13, Buccaneers 10 (in overtime); Bengals 20, Redskins 13; Chargers 22, Chiefs 21; Jaguars 20, Packers 16; and Seahawks 23, Rams 20.

Pittsburgh (11-3) won its second division title in a row by limiting the Ravens (9-5) to a season-low 202 yards. The Steelers have gone 14 straight games without yielding 300 yards, tying the 1973 Los Angeles Rams for the longest streak to start a season since the NFL merger in 1970.



Xinhua/Agencies