Steelers 23, Bills 10
PITTSBURGH -- The Buffalo Bills have always had a hard time winning in the Steel City.
Nothing changed Sunday.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, shaking off a report he would ask for a trade after the season, passed for a touchdown and Le'Veon Bell ran for another as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Bills 23-10 before 60,406 at Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh (3-6) snapped a two-game losing streak while Buffalo (3-7) lost for the fifth time in six games, despite welcoming back rookie quarterback EJ Manuel.
Manuel tossed a 2-yard touchdown strike to tight end Chris Gragg with three seconds left in the game, but the Bills suffered their 10th loss in 12 trips to Pittsburgh, where their last victory came in an AFC playoff game 20 years ago.
The Steelers, who trailed 3-0 after one quarter, stretched their lead to 23-3 in the fourth quarter on a pair of Shaun Suisham field goals, from 37 and 23 yards.
Bell, a rookie running back and second-round draft pick from Michigan State, scored on a 4-yard run with 3:02 left in the third quarter.
Pittsburgh grabbed its first lead of the game at 10-3 late in the second quarter on Roethlisberger's 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who has four touchdown catches in the past two games.
The Steelers, who surrendered a franchise-record 55 points and 610 yards in a loss to the New England Patriots last week, had evened the score at 3-3 at the 8:47 mark of the second quarter on Suisham's 36-yard field goal.
On their opening drive, the Steelers drove to the Buffalo 36, where Roethlisberger tossed his 10th interception of the season. The pass was intended for wide receiver Markus Wheaton, but Bills safety Jairus Byrd picked it off at the 14 and returned it 57 yards to the 29-yard line.
But the Bills had to settle for 20-yard field goal from Dan Carpenter with 6:16 remaining for their lone score.
Manuel, the 16th overall pick in this year's draft, had missed the past four games with a sprained right knee. He appeared rusty, completing just 22 of 39 passes for 155 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception.
Meanwhile, Roethlisberger was 18 of 30 passing for 204 yards. He tossed one touchdown and one interception.
Prior to the game, his agent, Ryan Tollner, dismissed an NFL Network report that the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback would ask for a trade after the season.
"(Reporter) Ian Rapoport's apparent sources seem to be guessing what Ben feels about the Steelers and being traded," Tollner said in a statement. "This is completely wrong and inaccurate.
"Ben has always said he wants to play his entire career for the Steelers, and his roots are set firmly in Pittsburgh. He has a lot left in the tank and is 100 percent committed to winning more championships with the Steelers."
Art Rooney II, the Steelers' president and co-owner, also labeled the NFL Network story as inaccurate.
"Contrary to erroneous reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers have not explored trading quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and have no plans to do so," Rooney said.
NOTES: Steelers rookie S Shamarko Thomas (left ankle) was injured in the second quarter and did not return. Will Allen replaced him in the dime defense. ... Steelers OG Ramon Foster (right ankle) was injured in the third quarter and did not return. He was replaced by Guy Whimper. ... Steelers OLB LaMarr Woodley (left calf) was injured in the third quarter and did not return. He was replaced by rookie Jarvis Jones. ... Bills WR Stevie Johnson (groin) was injured in the fourth quarter. ... Bills rookie WR Robert Woods (ankle) missed the game because of an injury.
