The Pittsburgh Steelers keep their playoff chances alive with a win over the Cleveland Browns. There Baker Mayfield experiences a pitch black day. Ben Roethlisberger is overcome with emotion at the end of the game.

Pittsburgh/Munich – The Pittsburgh Steelers have kept their playoff chances alive.

In what was probably quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s last home game at “Heinz Field”, the Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 26-14. With this success, Pittsburgh can even reach the NFL playoffs next weekend with a win over the Baltimore Ravens and a simultaneous loss by the Indianapolis Colts at the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“Big Ben” completed 24 of 46 passes for 123 yards in the win over the Browns. He threw a touchdown, but also made an interception. His counterpart Baker Mayfield fared worse, throwing for 185 yards and two touchdowns but also throwing two interceptions and taking nine sacks.

T.J. Watt with four sacks against Baker Mayfield

T.J. Watt alone managed to do this four times, so that he is now only one sack short of the NFL record set by Michael Strahan in 2001. Besides Roethlisberger and Watt, kicker Chris Boswell (four field goals) and running back Najee Harris, who set a personal career best with 188 yards, were also decisive figures in the Steelers’ victory.

After the game, “Big Ben” was overcome with emotion. “I’m so thankful for these fans and this place. There’s nothing like it,” the 39-year-old said on “ESPN” with tears streaming down his face. On a lap of honour through “Heinz Field”, Roethlisberger was celebrated by the Steelers fans with chants.

However, it is not yet officially known whether the quarterback will indeed end his career at the end of the season, but the pictures after the end of the game on Monday night (local time) strongly suggest that he will.