Enquirer news services

Ben Roethlisberger is starting to make this look easy. In only his third NFL start, the former Miami University quarterback led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a convincing 34-23 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

The rookie threw for 231 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score as the Steelers (4-1) beat the Browns (2-3) for the 13th time in their last 16 games.

Roethlisberger is only the sixth rookie quarterback to win his first three starts since the NFL merger in 1970. "Every week is getting better," Roethlisberger said. "It's all just starting to come together."

The Steelers (4-1) kept their grip on first place in the AFC North while the Browns (2-3) slipped closer to the bottom, where the Bengals (1-3), who had a bye Sunday, stand. The Browns host the Bengals next Sunday at 1 p.m.

Duce Staley ran for 117 yards and a score to pace the Steelers' ground attack.

• Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes to help the New England Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 24-10 for their 19th consecutive victory, an NFL record. The Patriots broke the record that was shared by five teams, most recently by Denver in 1997-98.

• The Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks fell from the ranks of the unbeatens with home losses. The Falcons lost to the Detroit Lions 17-10, and the St. Louis Rams' Marc Bulger threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Shaun McDonald in overtime to beat the Seahawks 33-27.

• In another stunner, the New York Giants beat their former coach Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys 26-10.

• Chad Pennington was 31-of-42 passing for 304 yards and a touchdown in the undefeated New York Jets' 16-14 victory over the winless Buffalo Bills.

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