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Steelers, Ravens to meet for AFC North title

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws a pass around Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first half Sunday in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shedeur Sanders threw for 186 yards and a touchdown, Cleveland’s defense kept Pittsburgh out of the end zone and the Browns held on for a 13-6 victory on Sunday, preventing the Steelers from clinching the AFC North.

Pittsburgh (9-7) came into the weekend needing either a win or loss by Baltimore for its first division title since 2020.

Instead, the Steelers will host the Ravens to close the regular season — the winner getting the division and the AFC’s fourth seed in the playoffs.

The Browns (4-12) snapped a four-game losing streak, along with a seven-game skid in division games. It is the first time since Dec. 10, 2009, that the Browns defeated the Steelers and held them without a touchdown.

Cleveland scored on its first two possessions and jumped out to a 10-0 lead.

Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes, including a touchdown and two interceptions as he improved to 2-4 as an NFL starting quarterback.

Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. scored a touchdown for the third time in four games and Andre Szmyt had two field goals, including one from 33 yards that put the Browns up 13-6 with 1:40 remaining.

Pittsburgh got the ball at its 35 after a touchback. Rodgers got the Steelers to the Browns 11 in four plays, including completions of 29 and 11 yards to tight end Pat Freiermuth.

A 3-yard completion to Adam Thielen on first-and-10 got the Steelers to the Browns 7, but Rodgers was unable to connect with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the next three plays. Denzel Ward blanketed Valdes-Scantling on a pass to the right corner of the end zone on fourth-and-7 with 17 seconds remaining as Pittsburgh turned it over on downs.

Myles Garrett was held without a sack for the first time in 10 games. He remains at 22 and needs one against Cincinnati next week to surpass Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt for the single-season NFL mark.

Pittsburgh wasted a prime scoring chance with 2:46 remaining in the first half when it turned it over on downs at the Cleveland 22 when Rodgers wasn’t able to connect with Scotty Miller on a pass to the end zone on fourth-and-1.

Ravens 41,

Packers 24

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — With their backs against the wall, the Baltimore Ravens made sure they wouldn’t underutilize Derrick Henry again.

The five-time Pro Bowl running back responded by delivering one of the greatest performances of his brilliant career to keep the Ravens’ playoff hopes alive.

Henry rushed for a season-high 216 yards — the most ever by a visiting player at Lambeau Field — and matched a career high with four touchdown runs in the Ravens’ 41-24 victory over Green Bay on Saturday night.

“It’s one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

Green Bay (9-6-1) lost its third straight, enabling the Chicago Bears to clinch the NFC North title. The Packers already clinched a playoff berth on Thursday when the Detroit Lions lost 23-10 at Minnesota.

This was the second straight week in which the Packers lost despite not punting the entire game. Only six other teams have ever gone back-to-back games without punting, and those six teams went a combined 12-0 in those games.

“That was a humbling night,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “Give Baltimore a ton of credit. They came in here and were in complete control the whole game.”

Henry’s 36 carries represented a career high. That came a week after Henry didn’t touch the ball in Baltimore’s final two series as the Ravens blew an 11-point, fourth quarter lead in a 28-24 loss to New England that put their playoff hopes on life support.

Henry’s dominance enabled the Ravens to score on their first five possessions and take a 27-14 halftime lead over Green Bay, which hadn’t allowed more than 24 points in 14 straight home games.

“That was very embarrassing, and that’s just not us at all,” Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper said.

Green Bay got back into the game by outscoring Baltimore 10-0 in the third quarter but the Ravens and Henry responded.

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