ST. LOUIS, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Ben Roethlisberger's three touchdown passes carried Pittsburgh to a 41-24 win over St. Louis Thursday, but the Steelers' offense suffered a major loss.
Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker, the NFL's leading rusher, was knocked out for the season with a broken right fibula.
The Steelers (10-5) neared a playoff bid with Roethlisberger completing 16 of 20 passes for 261 yards. A win by Pittsburgh next week against Baltimore or a loss by Cleveland in either of its last two games would give the Steelers the AFC North title.
A loss by Tennessee this weekend would also wrap up a Pittsburgh playoff spot.
Roethlisberger hit Nate Washington with a 17-yard scoring pass in the first period and made second-quarter scoring throws to Washington for 33 yards and Najeh Davenport for 12.
St. Louis drew within seven late in the third quarter on Marc Bulger's second touchdown pass of the night, but Jeff Reed gave the Steelers a 10-point lead with a 29-yard field goal and Ike Taylor returned an interception 51 yards for the final margin.
Parker was injured on Pittsburgh's second play when he was tackled by linebacker Will Witherspoon for a one-yard loss.
