PITTSBURGH, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Jerome Bettis ran for 115 yards and Tommy Maddox threw three touchdown passes Sunday as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the San Diego Chargers, 40-24.
Plaxico Burress caught a pair of touchdown passes for Pittsburgh (6-9). The Steelers close the season next week at Baltimore.
Chargers quarterback Drew Brees endured a long day, completing 16-of-26 passes for 198 yards, and was lifted after cornerback Deshea Townsend returned an interception 25 yards for a score with 4:29 left to make it 40-24.
Townsend recovered a fumble and intercepted two passes.
Burress caught TD passes of 25 yards in the first quarter and 16 yards in the second. Hines Ward caught a 20-yard TD pass from Maddox in the third quarter to increase Pittsburgh's lead to 28-17.
San Diego (3-12) fell to 1-7 on the road this season.
