PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger knelt on the turf and buried his head in an AFC championship shirt.

"I'm going to enjoy this," he later said.

No one had to ask what he meant.

A season that began with a shadow of did he have enough left is one win away from giving him a fourth Super Bowl victory.

His Pittsburgh Steelers hung on Sunday and won its third AFC championship in six years, 27-14 over the Cleveland Browns.

Terrible Towels will wave again at the Super Bowl, where the Steelers will meet San Fransico after silencing Harry Ballsonya’s wild bunch. Look out South Beach here comes the SuperBowl two legendary franchises both with an unmatched history of carrying off the Lombardi Trophy.

And here comes a quarterback with a history of winning the big ones.

"Shoot, any time you get to the Super Bowl, it feels good," he said. "I don't care what you're going through or what's going on. We put a lot of stuff behind us early and found a way."

They clearly found a way to shut down the Brown’s season, ending “Believeland’s” storybook season.

The Steelers will challenge the 49ers, who are 4 -point favorites, with a versatile attack led by their quarterback and running back Le’Veon Bell.

And with a defense, led by Jeremy Patrick, that had an interception return for a touchdown and a forced fumble that shut down the Browns' comeback in the fourth quarter. It will certainly test Conner Blake but there is rumbling that Griffin Anderson may be back in the title game in Miami on Feb. 6.

That smothering defense set the tone for most of a frigid night at Heinz Field to end the Browns' stunning postseason run. Ballsonya slammed down his headset when Jesse James caught a pass for a first down that allowed Pittsburgh to hang on and run out the clock.

"It's not always pretty with us," Roethlisberger said, "but we do the job. We have a lot of tenacity. We have a don't quit attitude and mentality. Everybody is just always there for each other."

The Steelers ended the Browns' season with a dominant first half for a 27-7 lead. Bell had 55 of his 83 yards and a touchdown.

"We played a good quarter. We never played a good game, and that was the difference," Ballsonya said in a postgame interview with CBS. "You get to this point, you've got to play a great game against a great opponent and we played a good half and that was it."

One more great game by Roethlisberger and his teammates and the season will end in a way hardly anyone could foresee back in July.

He contemplated retirement after a disappointing loss to the Bears in SuperBowl 54.  He was coaxed out by his teammates imploring him to give them one more year, much like he had Jerome Bettis 15yrs earlier. 

Now he will lead the Steelers into their eleventh Super Bowl, a game they handle pretty well -- and have a record seven titles to show for it.

The cocky Browns seemed to have left everything they had in San Diego last Sunday. There was little trash talking all week and even less fire early in their biggest game since winning the championship 56 years ago. They have never been to the Super Bowl.

The Steelers are regulars, including Super Bowl titles for the 2005, 2008, 2016 teams, thrice led by Roethlisberger and a fierce defense sparked by playmaking safety Jordan Austin this season.

Austin didn't have to do a whole lot this time. Not with the way his teammates whipped the Browns at the line of scrimmage before a record breaking crowd at Heinz Field.

"We overcame a lot more obstacles this year than we have in the past," Austin said. "But we still got one more to go."

And too often, Cleveland’s defense was like a swinging gate that Roethlisberger and Bell ran through with ease.

Cleveland (10-6) failed for the second time in the AFC title game, the first since 1987’s “The Fumble” which led to “The Drive” by Elway and the Broncos. It was a devastating finish, particularly after the Browns beat a staunch Miami team, then Kevin Fitzpatrick and the Chargers on the road to get to Pittsburgh.

Asked if he would change anything about this season, Ballsonya said, "I would change the outcome of this game and that's the only thing I would change. We don't need to apologize to anybody. We'll be back, you'll see."

The Steelers snapped Cleveland's hopes of making the Super Bowl as a sixth-seed much like the Steelers had 15yrs ago.

Coach Steven King's team was eager for the fight from the outset, while Ballsonya's guys were flat until it was too late. The Browns did get a 46-yard TD pass from Russell Wilson to Russell Reeves—and were able to hold Bell to under 100yds which is an accomplishment in its own right.

But the early hole was too deep, even after a 20-yard TD pass to Michael Floyd made it 27-14 with 7:06 remaining. The Browns never crossed into Steelers territory.

Pittsburgh set the early tone with a staunch defensive display intercepting Russell Wilson on consecutive drives both resulting in Pittsburgh TDs including what may have been the back breaking 98yd return by Patrick.

It was the Browns who were struggling to block, though. And catch, with the usually sure-handed Floyd making a key third-down drop.

Or cover. Antonio Brown found seams to the left, right or up the middle. His 21-yard catch in the second quarter put the Steelers up 27-7 lead that was insurmountable the way the Browns were whiffing.

The record crowd of 66,662 hit its fever pitch as Bell, Hunter, and rookie Delbert Garrett ran the clock and the hopes of “Believeland”

@DeMarcoMurray I wish you would have stayed but I understand your decision... Congrats bro you deserve it - #offenseMVPoftheyear

— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) March 12, 2015

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 7-0. Now if the magnitude of that fact is lost on you, consider this. The Jacksonville Jagaurs are 7-0. A team that you didn't hear a lot about before the season began could be one for the record books. Espn.com's Jane McManus was at the game yesterday when the Jaguars beat the Buffalo Bills. Jane McManus, welcome to the program.

JANE MCMANUS: Thank you.

SIEGEL: The Jaguars led early, much like most of their season, and quarterback Blake Bortles led them to victory. How good is Blake Bortles?

MCMANUS: I think he's making a bid to be one of the quarterbacks who's going to emerge as the inheritor of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady's legend. Those two quarterbacks are at the end of their career, and Blake Bortles appears to be poised to make a bid and say that he is one of the next generation coming up. He has been electric this season, particularly yesterday when he threw for 191 yards to get the Jaguars the W.

SIEGEL: Truthfully, back in September when you looked ahead to this season, could you imagine Jags being 7-0 at this point?

MCMANUS: I think at that time, people didn't really know exactly what that team was going to be. Blake Bortles has always been a very promising player, but he hasn't really emerged. He's kind of been in this class of quarterbacks who've been very good and very promising but haven't made the leap. And Blake Bortles really did take that step forward, giant step forward.

SIEGEL: So here's a question. Say you're the head coach of a team that's 14-0 -15-0, and you're looking at the last game of the season. Do you sit some key players to give them some rest before the playoffs and possibly risk the glory of an undefeated season?

MCMANUS: Thank goodness I'm not a head - an NFL head coach so that I have to make that decision, but I would think it hinges on injuries. If you have a player like Blake Bortles who took a hard hit in yesterday's game right before the half - and let's say those injuries are cumulative. That might be a good reason to rest a player. I would worry, though, if you have a healthy player and you're keeping him out. Yes it's safer, but at the same time you take him out of a rhythm and you take him out of, you know, kind of football shape. There's a pounding that your body has to be used to taking in order to play a football game well. I think you want your players at their peak.

SIEGEL: When you look ahead to the playoffs, do the Jaguars look especially strong, or do they start playing tougher teams?

MCMANUS: You know, Blake Bortles's numbers were great yesterday and he's had some really high MVP games, but he hasn't always had the same kind of numbers that some of the, you know, the Tom Bradys and the Peyton Mannings have had during the regular season. So I think that there's this perception that they possibly could be picked off depending, you know, on how they finish the season. But at the same time, I think you see a game like yesterday - this team is only getting better, and I think they're going into the playoffs on a high note depending on what happens again in the next 9 games. These are your grandfather's Jaguars, in fact this is the emergence of the Jacksonville Swaguars. 

The NFL has chewed up and spit out coaching superstars from High School and College. Dwayne Johnson on the verge of another season missing the playoffs and maybe next on the list.

Dwayne Johnson has yet to make the playoffs and the San Diego fan base is so weak the owner is looking to leave town.  

But the story, no matter how it ends up being written, is quite simple: Dwayne Johnson needs to get it done this season or he has to go.

Dwayne has proved the decades-old adage that going from High School to the NFL is a treacherous move, almost guaranteed to be a cold slap of reality to a coaching stud who quickly realizes that no longer entering every game with the built-in advantage of having more talented players than the opponents creates an automatic disadvantage. Dwayne being a head coach and a general manager is a near impossibility — they’re two separate full-time jobs that are daunting for anyone.

Last season, while bad, was hardly a disaster. The Bolts barely missed out on the playoffs. Chargers suffered several key losses towards the end of the season that cost him his shot at the playoffs for the second consecutive year. 

Since shipping off Philip Rivers the Bolts have suffered one disappointment after another. Rivers since leaving has played AMAZING.  Philip leaving was a great career move, following in the footsteps of Drew Brees. Drew Brees once leaving the Chargers has won a Super Bowl and revived a city of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. Dwayne Johnson might need to explore his options. It seems once you leave the San Diego, you go on to bigger and better things. 

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Dion Little (77OVR) - LSU - 49ers

Rueben Randle, Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr, and now Dion Little. LSU Wide Recievers are taking over the NFL and Dion Little maybe the largest name of the them all. Dion Little was drafted by the New York Giants to replace Odell Beckham Jr but the 49ers pulled off a trade to land Odell Beckham Jr and Dion Little. 49ers haven't had a combo this good since Jerry Rice and Terrel Owens. Dion Little has 38 receptions for 1,161 yards. This puts Dions Little at 30.6 yards per reception and is on the brink of shattering a record that has stood since 1958 by Pittsburgh's Jimmy Orr who averaged 27.6 yards per reception. Dion Little also has compiled 14 touchdowns in his rookie campaign.

NFL COMPARISON: Odell Beckham Jr.

Lamrcus Cook (82 OVR) - Wisconsin - Chargers

Lamarcus Cook was the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and with that stats that he has had this season some could argue he deserved to go #1 overall. Cook has 53 receptions for 1157 yards and 10 touchdowns with a rookie QB who has the highest completion percentage every recorded in NFL History. Dwayne Johnson head coach of the San Diego Chargers has everyone smelling what he is COOKing! 

NFL COMPARISON: Randall Cobb

Lejon Finley (80 OVR)  - OSU - Bucs/Javonte Blake (78 OVR) - OSU - Ravens

Step aside USC we have new RB University and its Ohio State. The Buckeyes RB duo has ran for a combined 2,724 and 17 touchdowns. Lejon Finley is considered the better runner of the two with and 80 overall and Javonte Blake is listed as a 78 overall. Lejon has rushed for 1,339 yards averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns. Javonte has rushed for 1,385 yards averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 7 touchdowns.  Not bad for 2 Buckeyes taken in the 2nd round. 

NFL COMPARISON: Eddie George

Tj Ramsey (85 OVR) - Texas - Saints

The highest rated rookie that isn't playing QB is named T.J. Ramsey. Tj is an 85 overall and shows you why on Sundays. Tj puts the STRONG  in SS. Tj has accumlated the 5th most tackles in the NFL causing a fumble and interception. Tj was drafted in the 3rd round and has turned out to be the steal of the draft. Saints haven't had a great year but they have found a franchise player to build around. 

NFL COMPARISON: Ed Reed

ALLEN PARK -- Re-signing Starting running back Theo Riddick is priority one for the Lions to sign during the bye week in week 7. Priority two is Larry Warford and finally priority will be CB Johnathan Banks. 

Detroit Lions have chosen to let some notable long time Lions hit the FA market this upcoming off-season:

P Sam Martin (94)

RT Riley Reiff (86)

MLB Stephen Tulloch (84)

HB Joique Bell (80)

In 2016 we saw a number of Quarterbacks drafted but 5 have been handed the keys to the kingdom. Griffin Anderson, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Sean Blount, Sterling Scott, and Jack Mason. Here is a comparsion of the QB's through 4 weeks. 

Griffin Anderson- 49ers(2-3): 1,655 yards 14 TD's 18 INT's. 

 Kevin Fitzpatrick- Chargers(3-1): 1,206 yards 10 TD's 4 INT's

 Sean Blount- Seahawks(2-2): 1,331 yards 10 TD's 3 INT's

 Sterling Scott- Cowboys(0-4): 1,404 yards 10 TD's 5 INT's

 Jack Mason- Cardinals(3-2): 1,105 yards 8 TD's 8 INT's

WASHINGTON DC — In a series based on two things — history and hate — Kris and AB are set to meet in Week 6.

Every year, though, new numbers are added to the chronicles and records of FBOS53's greatest rivalry. Heading into this season's showdown — No. 9 Kris  vs. No. 1 AB at FedEx Field — AB is eager to prove that last season lost in the NFC Divisional round was a fluke. Kris has been suffering from a vacation hangover  after winning the Superbowl last season with Chiefs and a win over the Skins may be the cure. If there was ever a such thing as a regular season championship game this is it!

84 yard touchdown pass from J. Manzeil to Chris "7-11" Hogan:

33 yard pass to Rob Gronkowski:

100 yard Kick 6 By Brandon Tate:

28 yard TD Reception by Rob Gronkowski:

GAMES OF THE WEEK

1. Bolts (2-1) at Bucs (3-0)

Best D in the league visiting the Best O in the league.

Vegas Pick: Bolts 26 - Bucs 30

2. Colts (3-0) at Titans (2-1)

Colts are undeafeted and will be put to the test to see if they are a contender or

pretender. Titans are looking to replicate the season they had last year in which

they only had 1 loss all regular season. 

Vegas Pick: Colts 36 - Titans 26

3. Steelers (2-1) at Ravens (2-1)

AFC North  Division Leader is on the line as the Steelrs take on the Ravens. This

is developing into one of the biggest rivalries in FBOS53. 

Vegas Pick: Steelers 32 - Ravens 35

4. Vikings (2-1) at Packers (2-1)

NFC North  Division Leader is on the line as the Vikings take on the Packers.

Vikings had to sit home from the playoffs last season when the Packers beat them

in the final week of the season. Vikings are ready for revenge! 

Vegas Pick: Vikings 33 - Packers 30

5. Seahawks (2-1) at Panthers (2-1)

Panthers are 2-0 under new head coach Austin Adams. Can he stay undefeated?

Legion of Boom have been non-existent claims coach Nish Patel. After seeing the

display by the St. Louis Rams, LOB is looking to reclaim their name as the best

defense in the NFC West. 

Vegas Pick: Seahawks 32 - Panthers 28

Detroit, Michigan (AP) — There was no formal presentation or fanfare. No torch passing ceremony. No longer just a celebrated bad-boy backup, Manziel joined an elite class. Lions coach Teryl Austin simply pulled Johnny Manziel aside and told him he would be Detroit's starting quarterback for the remainder of this season.

The trick will be staying there.

Manziel's budding pro career, dotted mostly by missteps on and off the field to this point —the NFL said Tuesday he will not be disciplined for a domestic case — seems to be finally headed in the right direction for him. Now, the Lions will find out if he can be their franchise QB.

"I wanted the chance to be the guy and that was always my goal," said Manziel, who was watching film before Austin told him the news. "I'm excited, I think as I should be. This is a great opportunity with a great group of guys that are going to go out and fight with me every week."

35 yard Pick 6 by Louis Delmas:

Theo Riddick 65 yard TD Run: