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In his first public statement since being accused of rape last month, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says the prosecutor's decision not to bring charges in the incident was the right decision but won't comment beyond that.

Indianapolis lost its' first game of the season Sunday, 29-15, to the Jets. The Patriots and Bengals each won to clinch their divisions. Green Bay is in the playoffs after pounding Seattle. Steelers, Eagles and Cowboys also won.

Chargers edge Bengals, 27-24, days after death of Cincinnati's Chris Henry. Raiders stun Broncos, 20-19, on late touchdown pass. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 503 yards in 37-36 win over Packers. Two Browns set records in win over Chiefs.

Saints beat the Redskins, 33-30, with a field goal in overtime to stay unbeaten. Colts now 12-0 after win over Titans. Michael Vick accounts for two touchdowns in Eagles 34-7 win in Atlanta. Late field goal carries Dolphins past Patriots.

Brett Favre completed 22 of 35 passes in Minnesota's win over Seattle. The Colts stayed unbeatean by edging Baltimore. New Orleans is also unbeaten after a rout of Tampa Bay. Chiefs surprise Steelers in overtime.

The Colts and Saints go down to the wire before improving to 9-0. The Bengals complete a Steeler sweep. The Falcons fall to the Panthers. LaDainian Tomlinson leads the Chargers to a share of the AFC West lead

AP Sports Writer Rachel Cohen previews three key games in the NFL this week, including the Patriots visiting the Colts. Two 6-2 teams meet as the Bengals play the Steelers. The Cowboys also tangle with the Packers.

Tyrone Carter returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown as the Steelers beat the Broncos, 28-10, Monday night. Pittsburgh kept its' share of the AFC North lead with the win. Denver fell to 6-2 with its' second consecutive loss.

AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner previews three top games in the NFL this week, including Dallas visiting Philadelphia. The undefeated Colts host the Texans, while the Super Bowl champion Steelers travel to Denver.

From staff reports

Ben Roethlisberger thew a 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left to rally the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Arizona Cardinals to win Super Bowl XLIII 27-23.

Arizona trailed 20-7 entering the final quarter before quarterback Kurt Warner led them from behind. Warner found Larry Fitzgerald for a 1-yard touchdown pass to cap an 87-yard drive early in the period. Later, the Cardinals got a safety when the Steelers were holding in the end zone to cut their deficit to 20-16.

On the ensuing possesion, Warner found Fitzgerald for a 64-yard touchdown, and Arizona led 23-20 with 2:37 remaining.

That set the stage for Roethlisberger to take the Steelers 78 yards on their drive to the championship.

Steelers rally to defeat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII....

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh's dominating defense beat the Baltimore Ravens 23-14 in the AFC championship on Sunday and put the Steelers back in the Super Bowl.

Santonio Holmes scored on an electrifying 65-yard catch-and-run in the first half, and hard-hitting safety Troy Polamalu returned an interception 40 yards for a clinching TD with 4:24 remaining for the Steelers (14-4).

Pittsburgh earned a matchup with the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals in two weeks in Tampa, where they will meet in the championship game.

Steelers rattle Ravens 23-14, head to Super Bowl....

By BARRY WILNER
AP Football Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- James Harrison slams down the current version of the Steel Curtain better than any Pittsburgh Steeler, earning him The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award.

The linebacker who had a career-high 16 sacks, setting a team record, and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas' DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh defense was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer.

"That's something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year," Harrison said. "In my mind, I think I do - and it's going to sound boring - what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do."

Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware.

Baltimore safety Ed Reed, the 2004 winner, got eight votes. Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth had five and Harrison's teammate, safety Troy Polamalu, got two.

Steelers' Harrison is AP Defensive Player of Year....

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney's four brothers have agreed to sell a controlling stake of the team to him and his son, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

Patrick and Art Rooney Jr. confirmed the deal in a story posted on the paper's Web site Friday night. They and their other two brothers — Timothy and John — could get a total of $750 million after debt is taken out, according to the report.

Art Rooney Jr. said the brothers hope to get the deal wrapped up before a board meeting in December. Both sides want to get a deal done by then because they are worried about possible higher taxes once the Obama administration is in office.

"It's a good deal. I'm happy for Dan. I'm happy for the rest of the family. I think young Art, Dan's son, will do a fine job," Patrick Rooney told the paper. "I think we're doing the right thing."

Art Rooney II, Dan's son, is the team president.

Each brother owns 16 percent of the team, adding up to 80 percent, with another Pittsburgh family, the McGinleys, owning 20 percent. Those shares are not being sold. The Rooneys' father, Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr., bought the franchise in 1933 for $2,500.

Report: Agreement reached on Steelers sale....

CBSSports.com wire reports

A deal could be reached within days to sell a majority interest in the Pittsburgh Steelers to the chairman of a Pittsburgh-based investment firm, taking control of the NFL franchise away from the Rooney family.

The shares would be sold to Stanley Druckenmiller, chairman of Duquesne Capital management, making him principal owner of the team. Two officials familiar with the talks identified the buyer as Druckenmiller and said Monday that the deal could be completed by the end of the week. They declined to be identified because they were not directly involved in negotiations.

Druckenmiller's interest was first reported Monday by the Wall Street Journal, which said a secret study by Goldman Sachs valued the franchise at between $800 million and $1.2 billion. The report came a day after Dan Rooney said he and his son, team president Art Rooney II, were attempting to buy out his four brothers in an effort to retain "substantial ownership of the team."

Financier Druckenmiller makes majority bid for Steelers....

PITTSBURGH — Running back Najeh Davenport was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday after the team couldn't work out a trade for Willie Parker's former backup.

Also released were safety Mike Lorello, long snapper Jared Retkofsky and offensive lineman Doug Legursky.

Davenport rushed for a career-high 499 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry last season, but was ineffective as a starter in the Steelers' final two games after Parker broke a leg Dec. 20.

Davenport was held to 25 yards on 16 carries in a 31-29 wild-card playoff loss to Jacksonville after gaining 27 yards on 12 attempts in a season-ending loss at Baltimore.

Pittsburgh Steelers release running back Najeh Davenport, three others....