NFL Roundup

Steelers 27, Falcons 20

ATLANTA - Ben Roethlisberger threw for 360 yards, and William Gay returned an interception for a touchdown as the Steelers remained a half-game behind Cincinnati in the AFC North.

The Falcons ensured themselves of a losing season and slipped out of first place in the NFC South.

Pittsburgh led, 13-0, after Gay picked off Matt Ryan's pass over the middle on the first play of the second quarter, returning it 52 yards. The Steelers extended the lead to 27-13 with Le'Veon Bell's 1-yard run in the opening minute of the fourth period.

The Falcons made a game of it, pulling within a touchdown on Ryan's 4-yard pass to Roddy White. But the Steelers clinched the victory with their final possession, converting twice on third down to run out the clock.

Pittsburgh 6 14 0 7 – 27

Atlanta 0 7 6 7 – 20

First quarter

Pit–FG Suisham 38, 9:09.

Pit–FG Suisham 38, :02.

Second quarter

Pit–Gay 52 interception return (Suisham kick), 14:46.

Atl–Hester 17 pass from Ryan (Bryant kick), 4:19.

Pit–Bell 1 run (Suisham kick), :27.

Third quarter

Atl–FG Bryant 28, 11:00.

Atl–FG Bryant 22, 2:40.

Fourth quarter

Pit–Bell 13 run (Suisham kick), 14:11.

Atl–White 4 pass from Ryan (Bryant kick), 10:21.

A: 71,161.

Pit   Atl

First downs 22   20

Total Net Yards 398   407

Rushes-yards 22-45   20-97

Passing 353   310

Punt Returns 2-43   1-7

Kickoff Returns 2-50   4-83

Interceptions Ret. 1-52   0-0

Comp-Att-Int 27-35-0   26-37-1

Sacked-Yards Lost 1-7   0-0

Punts 3-43.0   3-48.0

Fumbles-Lost 0-0   1-0

Penalties-Yards 3-34   3-25

Time of Possession 30:43   29:17

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Pittsburgh, Bell 20-47, Roethlisberger 2-(minus 2). Atlanta, S.Jackson 11-46, Ryan 3-27, Freeman 4-21, Rodgers 2-3.

Passing: Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger 27-35-0-360. Atlanta, Ryan 26-37-1-310.

Receiving: Pittsburgh, A.Brown 10-123, Bell 5-72, Wheaton 5-66, Miller 4-68, Bryant 3-31. Atlanta, Douglas 10-131, White 7-58, Hester 5-85, Rodgers 1-12, S.Jackson 1-11, Freeman 1-9, Toilolo 1-4.

Missed Field Goals: None.