NFL: Pittsburgh 28, Detroit 20

DETROIT, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes Sunday and the Steelers fought off a late Detroit rally to beat the Lions 28-20.

Roethlisberger's scoring strikes were for 15 yards to Heath Miller, 17 yards to Hines Ward and 47 yards to Mike Wallace. The Steelers' quarterback was 23-for-300 for 277 yards, with an interception.

Rashard Mendenhall ran for 77 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown, for Pittsburgh (3-2).

The Lions (1-4) scored on a 25-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper to Dennis Northcutt with 4:57 remaining and got deep into Pittsburgh territory on a subsequent drive before the Steelers sacked the quarterback on three straight plays.

Pittsburgh totaled seven sacks, three by James Harrison.

Culpepper completed 23-of-37 passes for 282 yards and was intercepted once.

Williams James picked off a pass and ran 38 yards for a touchdown for the Lions.