PITTSBURGH, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Jerome Bettis ran for three touchdowns Sunday as Pittsburgh beat Detroit, 35-21 to secure the last AFC playoff berth.
Willie Parker rushed for 135 yards on 26 attempts; Bettis had 41 yards on 10 carries; Heath Miller made three catches for 62 yards; and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went 7-for-16 for 135 yards, two interceptions and no interceptions. Antwaan Randle El returned had an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown and Ricardo Colclough added a 63-yard kickoff return to set up another score for Pittsburgh.
The Steelers (11-5) won their last four games of the regular season to lock up the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs, and will play at AFC North rival Cincinnati in the first round next weekend. The Steelers and Bengals split two games this season.
Joey Harrington passed for 212 yards and three touchdowns for the Lions (5-11), who lost six of their last seven games.
