Ten snaps. All handoffs from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to Le’Veon Bell.

Each one of them chewing up clock, yardage and whatever mettle Miami’s defensive front seven might have brought north to chilly Heinz Field with them.

When the drive ended 83 yards and 5:27 later with Bell stretching across the goal line to give the Steelers a 20-3 lead, Pittsburgh’s transformation from aerial circus that produced a quick two-touchdown lead to a battering ram protecting that advantage was complete.

”It’s the best feeling for an offensive lineman controlling the line of scrimmage and knowing they can’t stop it,” right tackle Marcus Gilbert said. ”That surge off the football, it kills the defense. It demoralizes them.”

And it showcased just how versatile Pittsburgh’s offense has become during the eight-game winning streak it carries to Kansas City on Sunday in the divisional round of the playoffs.

The Steelers have beaten teams in various ways during their two-month renaissance following a choppy 4-5 start.

One week it’s Roethlisberger hooking up with Antonio Brown three times for scores as they did during a Thanksgiving night victory in Indianapolis.

The next it’s Bell setting a franchise record with 236 yards rushing in snowy Buffalo.

It’s the kind of versatility the Steelers (12-5) believe can make them a tough out going forward, one they showcased during their first meeting with the Chiefs in October, when Roethlisberger tossed five touchdowns and Bell ran for 144 yards in his return from a three-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

”We’re a team that’s really balanced,” Bell said . ”We can spread guys out, throw the ball all over the place, line up big, run the ball out of shotgun or run or pass out of four-wide. I think we’re really balanced, and we can attack in different ways.”

Having a healthy line and one of the league’s most skilled backs certainly helps. The proof of Pittsburgh’s dominance running the ball over the past seven weeks – a stretch in which Bell has piled up 1,002 yards rushing – is that the Steelers haven’t done much to disguise when they’re going let Bell do his thing.

When Pittsburgh wants to set the tone, offensive coordinator Todd Haley will often send in 286-pound guard Chris Hubbard as a sixth lineman with 270-pound blocking tight end David Johnson. Though technically there are pass options for Roethlisberger when the Steelers go to their ”heavy” set, they don’t.

It’s a formula borrowed from former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher, who championed the idea of throwing early so you can run late.

It worked to near perfection against the Dolphins, when Bell broke Hall of Famer Franco Harris’ franchise record for yards rushing in a postseason game by the end of the third quarter.

Bell finished with 167 yards on the ground and Pittsburgh cruised to its biggest playoff blowout in 20 years on a day Roethlisberger threw just 18 passes and just six in the second half.

”We have a better understanding of who we are,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday.

What Pittsburgh needs to be in Kansas City is potent but also careful with the ball, something that’s been an issue at times recently in the postseason.

Roethlisberger has thrown nine interceptions in his past seven playoff games, including a pair against Miami.

The second came on a third-down overthrow with less than 5 minutes to go that left Roethlisberger’s right foot pinned underneath Miami’s Cameron Wake and forced Roethlisberger to briefly wear a protective boot after the game.

Roethlisberger said on his weekly radio show on Tuesday that his foot is fine and Tomlin has no concerns over Roethlisberger’s availability while also taking the blame for having his franchise quarterback throwing so late with things well in hand.

”I got a little overaggressive there,” Tomlin said.

A trait that’s been a hallmark of the Tomlin/Roethlisberger/Haley partnership.

Tomlin would love to be in the position again on Sunday.

So would the rest of the Steelers, who have no problem ceding the ball and the spotlight to Bell and the big guys in front of him who have been the guiding force during two months of methodical brilliance.

”When Bell keeps running the ball the way he’s running the ball, I don’t care if we pass the ball five times a game,” rookie wide receiver Demarcus Ayers said. ”If we come out of stadiums healthy and Bell does what he does, I’m fine with that.”

NOTES: Tomlin said there is no timetable for how long assistant coach Joey Porter will remain on leave. The team placed Porter on leave Monday following his arrest on several charges stemming from an incident at a Pittsburgh bar hours after the victory over Miami. … TE Ladarius Green remains in the concussion protocol after missing his third straight game following a helmet-to-helmet hit against Cincinnati.

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The resumes are nearly identical. Two Super Bowl victories. Four Pro Bowls apiece. A steady ascension into the upper stratosphere of the NFL record books. Both are already in the top 10 in career touchdown passes, with Roethlisberger on the cusp of joining Manning in the top 10 in all-time yards passing.

Just don’t call it a rivalry.

When they take the same field for just the fourth time as professionals on Sunday when Manning and the streaking New York Giants (8-3) visit Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5), the focus will be on keeping pace in a frenetic playoff race, not trying to match each other’s stats.

”I don’t know if there is any extra motivation,” Roethlisberger said. ”Just trying to win a football game against one of the best teams in football should be motivation enough.”

In an alternate universe, Roethlisberger might have been the guy behind center wearing Big Blue.

For a few minutes during draft day in 2004, he thought he was heading to New York with the fourth overall pick. Instead, the Giants took Philip Rivers, then shipped Rivers to San Diego as part of a megadeal that sent Manning – the top overall pick – to New York. Roethlisberger, wearing a black pinstriped suit with a gold tie, heard his name called a little over an hour later when Pittsburgh used a first-round pick on a quarterback for just the fifth time in franchise history.

He doesn’t spend a lot of time thinking about what might have been. Neither does Manning. That’s for others.

”You always want your quarterback draft class to be well thought of and respected down the road,” Manning said. ”You hear about the ’83 draft class and other certain years. You want to be thrown in that mix someday.”

Just not yet. Both in their mid-30s and signed through the rest of the decade. Maybe they’ll reunite at the Hall of Fame one day, though Roethlisberger stressed ”hopefully that’s a long way off.”

Some things to look for as the Giants seek their seventh straight win while Pittsburgh tries to begin another December run like the ones that propelled the Steelers to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

JPP IS BACK: Jason Pierre-Paul has had 5+ sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown in his last two games, along with 12 tackles. The end is the current NFC defensive player of the week for his career-high three sacks, forced fumble and 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Cleveland. The seven-year veteran is the first NFL player with at least three sacks and a fumble-return touchdown of at least 40 yards in the same game since 1982, the first year individual sacks became an official statistic. He is the first Giants player with at least three sacks and a touchdown in the same game since George Martin on Nov. 24, 1985.

HOMECOMING: New York coach Ben McAdoo grew up in Homer City, Pennsylvania, about an hour east of Pittsburgh. This isn’t the first time he’s found himself going up against his childhood team. His family put together half-Steelers/half-Green Bay Packers jerseys for the 2011 Super Bowl when McAdoo was the tight ends coach for Green Bay. A win on Sunday would make him the first rookie head coach to win seven consecutive games since Jim Harbaugh did it with San Francisco in 2011.

KICKING IT: Giants punter Brad Wing had his best game of the season against the Browns with a net average of 44.7 yards on nine punts, landing a career-high five inside the 20-yard line. Placekicker Robbie Gould isn’t so hot. The veteran signed after the release of Josh Brown last month has missed three extra points in the past two games. He needs to start hitting them if he wants to keep his job. He has hit both of his field goal attempts in five games.

AB vs. OBJ: The game will feature two of the NFL’s most talented (and most flamboyant) wide receivers in Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. Brown’s 10 touchdown receptions are tied for the NFL lead; Beckham is tied for fourth with eight. Both are also featured in the punt return game. Asked when Beckham is at his most dangerous, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin responded ”whenever they snap the ball.”

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AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan contributed to this report.

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4:40 p.m.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has tied Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas for 11th on the touchdown pass list. Roethlisberger’s 2-yard strike to Le’Veon Bell in the first quarter against Dallas on Sunday gave Roethlisberger 290 touchdown passes in his career. Roethlisberger’s next scoring throw will tie him with Hall of Famer Warren Moon for 10th on the all-time list.

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3:45 p.m.

Referee Jeff Triplette’s crew is having a busy day in the Green Bay-Tennessee game.

The Packers already have seven penalties for 62 yards, and Triplette has ejected Tennessee’s left tackle.

But the most confusing sequence took place after Aaron Rodgers ran for a 20-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter. Titans cornerback Perrish Cox hit Rodgers just after the quarterback crossed the goal line, sparking a scrum between both teams at the back of the end zone.

Officials huddled then announced Cox had been penalized for unnecessary roughness for the hit on Rodgers. With the Packers ready to attempt a 2-point conversion, Triplette first announced the Packers would take the 15-yard penalty on the 2-point try, only to quickly reverse himself and note that’s not something Green Bay can do.

Triplette then said the Packers were going to attempt the 2-point conversion. The Titans stopped James Starks short.

Then it got better.

Mason Crosby pushed an onside kick attempt out of bounds, and Triplette essentially repeated himself explaining the penalty and the ball being spotted at the Titans 45.

Tennessee leads 34-22.

– Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tenn.

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2:55 p.m.

Marcus Mariota is getting the best of his first matchup against two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers – at least through the first half.

The No. 2 pick overall in the 2015 draft completed his first 10 passes Sunday and reached halftime 12 of 18 for 216 yards with three touchdowns. Mariota threw a TD pass to Anthony Fasano to cap a 21-point first quarter, and he threw a 32-yard TD pass to Rishard Matthews and a 6-yarder to Kendall Wright.

His third TD pass gave the Titans a 35-10 lead with 1:55 left in the first half.

Rodgers answered with a 13-yard TD pass to James Starks, but Tennessee took a 35-16 lead into halftime.

– Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tenn.

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2:45 p.m.

On consecutive plays to end the first half, wide receivers Julio Jones and Dorial Green-Beckham played deep safety for the Falcons and Eagles, respectively.

Jones came in to play defense when Philadelphia went for fourth-and-1 from the Falcons 48 with :08 seconds left in the first half. Carson Wentz threw the ball away instead of running out the clock and the Falcons took over for a chance at a desperation play. So, the 6-foot-5 Green-Beckham entered on defense for the Eagles. But Matt Ryan didn’t get a chance to heave a deep pass and threw it away to end the half. The Eagles lead the Falcons 7-6.

– Rob Maaddi reporting from Philadelphia.

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2:40 p.m.

Blair Walsh missed again.

The Minnesota Vikings kicker, who managed to keep his job despite all sorts of accuracy issues, shanked an extra point wide right at the end of the first half against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. That left Minnesota’s lead at 20-14 heading into halftime.

Walsh is only 15 of 19 on PATS this season, 79 percent.

The Vikings brought in six free-agent kickers during the week for a tryout to replace Walsh, but the team wound up sticking with him. In last week’s loss to Detroit, Walsh missed an extra point, had a field goal blocked and put a kickoff into the end zone when it was supposed to land inside the 10-yard line.

– Howard Fendrich reporting from Landover, Md.

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2:35 p.m.

Denver controlled the first 29 minutes against the Saints, intercepting Drew Brees twice and taking a 10-0 lead. But as the second half kicks off, New Orleans is just one score down thanks to a late-first-half interception by Sterling Moore. Brees then marched New Orleans 50 yards in 27 seconds to set up a short Wil Lutz field goal, and the score is now 10-3.

– Brett Martel reporting from New Orleans.

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2:00 p.m.

Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles can’t even throw the ball away properly.

Under pressure and trying to ground it near covered running back T.J. Yeldon, Bortles hit Yeldon’s foot and the ball bounced into the air. Houston linebacker Whitney Mercilus picked it off, giving the Texans the ball at midfield. They missed a 49-yard field goal, but still led 14-7 in the second quarter.

It was Bortles’ second interception of the game and his sixth in the last five games. His first one was returned for a touchdown.

– Mark Long reporting from Jacksonville.

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1:55 p.m.

So far, Denver’s No. 1 pass defense is owning New Orleans’ top-rated pass offense.

The Broncos made interceptions on two straight Drew Brees passes, both by Darian Stewart. The first ended a promising Saints drive at the Denver 7-yard line. When New Orleans regained possession, Brees’ next pass over the middle for rookie Mochael Thomas deflected by Bradley Roby and caught, once again, by Stewart. He returned it to the New Orleans 39, setting up a 50-yard field goal by Brandon McManus that put the Broncos up 10-0 in the second quarter.

– Brett Martel reporting from New Orleans.

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1:50 p.m.

A difficult catch that was initially ruled incomplete has given Denver a 7-0 lead over the New Orleans Saints.

Receiver Jordan Taylor made a leaping 14-yard catch near the sideline, but was immediately hit by Saints safety Jairus Byrd, who tried to rip the ball out. Taylor momentarily lost his handle on the ball, but was able regather control as he landed on his side with one foot out of bounds.

However, video replay showed Taylor’s knee came down in bounds before the foot touched on the white line. That was enough evidence to overturn the call and give Denver an early lead in the Superdome.

-Brett Martel reporting from New Orleans.

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1:40 p.m.

The Panthers have lost punter Andy Lee to a hamstring injury. Kicker Graham Gano was forced into punting duties in the first quarter and launched a 42-yard punt, his first attempt since 2010.

Lee’s return is listed as questionable.

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1:35 p.m.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has become the first player in NFL history with 20,000 yards passing and 3,000 yards rushing in the first six NFL seasons.

Newton also passed Jake Delhomme for the most completions in franchise history with 1,581. Newton completed a 9-yard pass to tight end Greg Olsen in the first quarter to break the record.

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1:30 p.m.

Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan has been ejected in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers after making contact with an official.

The Titans were lining up for just their second official play with a 7-0 lead when officials threw a handful of flags with Letroy Guion going unabated to quarterback Marcus Mariota. Lewan was arguing with Guion when back judge Steve Freeman was trying to break up the Titans and Packers.

Lewan appeared on replays to push away Freeman’s hand.

Officials talked over the penalties, and an angry Lewan headed to the locker room. He was replaced by Dennis Kelly.

The Titans capped the drive with running back DeMarco Murray throwing a 10-yard pass to Delanie Walker for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

– Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tennessee.

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1:25 p.m.

Tennessee running back DeMarco Murray needed only one carry Sunday to match a franchise record originally set by Earl Campbell.

Murray took his first handoff 75 yards for a touchdown Sunday against Green Bay, giving him his fifth straight game with at least one rushing touchdown. Campbell, now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, did that in 1979 for the then-Houston Oilers.

The Titans running back came into Sunday as the NFL’s second-leading rusher in his first season in Tennessee. Murray had been tied with LenDale White (2008), Eddie George (2000), Gary Brown (1993), Alonzo Highsmith (1989) and Campbell (1981) with four straight games with a rushing TD.

– Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tenn.

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1:15 p.m.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have failed once again to score a touchdown on their opening possession, extending the NFL’s longest current TD drought to open games.

Jacksonville’s streak is now at 23 games after Blake Bortles threw an interception against Houston on Sunday. Kareem Jackson stepped in front of Allen Hurns and returned it 42 yards for a score.

The Jaguars haven’t found the end zone on their opening drive since Week 2 of the 2015 season against Miami. Since then, they have 17 punts, three field goals and now three turnovers – all interceptions this season – in their initial possessions. Bortles also threw opening-drive picks against Green Bay and Chicago.

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1:05 p.m.

The Tennessee Titans’ attempt to catch the Green Bay Packers by surprise on the opening kickoff with an onside kick failed.

The Titans won the toss, deferred and the Packers went back to receive the kickoff.

Kicker Ryan Succop dribbled the ball off the tee with teammates moving quickly to recover the ball. But the ball went right at Packers linebacker Joe Thomas, and he recovered at the Tennessee 49.

But the Titans forced the Packers to go three-and-out on the opening drive for a nice start against a Green Bay offense that came in having scored seven touchdowns in the first quarter of its first eight games.

– Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tenn.

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Postseasons don’t usually end at Heinz Field. Not like this. Not to hated Baltimore.

Without injured All-Pro back Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers were one-dimensional on offense and didn’t do nearly enough to stop the Ravens, who snapped a three-game playoff losing streak against their bitter rivals with a 30-17 victory on Saturday night in the AFC wild-card game.

The Steelers (11-6), who had to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns in the first half, closed within 20-15 in the fourth quarter but gave up 10 straight points. Roethlisberger, forced from the game for a few plays with a neck injury after he was sacked with Pittsburgh down by 15 and desperately driving, threw an interception in the end zone with 2:57 left to seal the Steelers’ fate.

Roethlisberger finished 31 of 45 for 334 yards and threw two interceptions. He was sacked five times by the Ravens, who were in his face for four quarters and finally got to leave Pittsburgh victorious following three agonizing playoff losses.

Following the game, Roethlisberger slowly dressed at his locker, grimacing as he pulled his short over a large wrap around his right hand.

The black and gold were black and blue.

With Bell sidelined by a hyperextended right knee, the Steelers only rushed for 68 yards and weren’t able to keep Baltimore’s defense from pinning back its ears and going after Big Ben.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback set team records in touchdown passes, passing yards and completions in leading his team to a wild 51-34 win Sunday at Heinz Field.

Roethlisberger picked apart the Colts’ secondary in outdueling Andrew Luck, completing 40-of-49 passes for 522 yards and six touchdowns.

“I said earlier that he is a first ballot Hall of Famer in my opinion,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said after the Steelers ended his team’s five-game winning streak. “He’s unbelievably accurate. He’s big. He’s strong he makes all the throws. You have to be able to get him on the ground.”

The Colts did not sack Roethlisberger one time and he flattened them in just about every way imaginable.

Roethlisberger completed eight of 11 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns on throws that covered at least 15 yards and he became the first quarterback in NFL history with multiple 500-yard passing games.

Roethlisberger not only eclipsed his previous single-game high of 503 passing yards in beating the Colts, the 11th-year veteran also won his 100th game in his 150th career start.

Roethlisberger joins Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to win 100 games in 150 or fewer starts.

“That was brought to my attention this week,” Roethlisberger said of the milestone he reached. “I’ve been so blessed to play on some great football teams and to be a part of a great franchise. To have my name on a list with the others guys up there is a humbling honor.”

The Colts entered the game with a five-game winning streak and fresh off a shut out of the Cincinnati Bengals. But they were no match against Roethlisberger, who threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns in the first two quarters while leading the Steelers to a 35-20 halftime lead.

That was the most yards that Roethlisberger has over thrown for in a half, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

“Just a tremendous efforts by a lot of people but obviously Ben was the guy tonight,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after his team improved to 5-3 at the midway point of the season. “This was a timely (performance) and a much-needed one given the staggering statistics that Andrew Luck and their group was putting up. It was necessary for our group to match their group from that standpoint and we challenged Ben and the offense all week to do it and they responded.”

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Roethlisberger and Luck combined for 922 passing yards but the latter also threw a pair of interceptions — Steelers cornerback William Gay returned the first one 33 yards for a touchdown — and also took a critical safety after tripping over the feet of one of his offensive linemen and throwing the ball from the end zone as he was falling to the ground.

The Colts were penalized for intentional grounding on the play and the automatic safety gave the Steelers a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

Roethlisberger, following the ensuing kickoff, led a 12-play, 67-yard drive that he capped with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Heath Miller. The Colts never threatened the rest of the way.

“We just came out and put up a really nice team effort,” Roethlisberger said. “This was offense, defense and special teams, coaches, this was everybody and why does it have to stop here? Why can’t we keep doing this?”

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Arians led the Colts to a 9-3 record as interim head coach in place of Chuck Pagano, who was receiving treatment for leukemia. He has groomed Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck early in their careers.

NFL.com reported on Thursday that the Chicago Bears were the first team to request permission to interview Arians, who’s helping the Colts prepare for their playoff game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Bradley is helping the Seahawks prep for their playoff game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. He’s been the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator since 2009, and the team’s defense allowed a league-low 15.3 points per game this season.

The Eagles are seeking a replacement for longtime coach Andy Reid, who was fired Monday.

They already have interviewed Penn State’s Bill O’Brien and Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong. O’Brien is remaining at Penn State.

Team officials will meet with Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy Sunday in Denver, and are also expected to talk with Oregon coach Chip Kelly.

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