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The Steelers put a bigger gap between them and the rest of the AFC North with a 24-13 win over the Bengals. (AP Images)

Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Cincinnati Bengals 13

The Steelers solidified their hold on first place in the AFC North and defeated the Bengals 24-13. The Bengals are 2-5 for the first time since 2004.

Momentum swung in the contest when the Bengals opted to kick a field goal instead take a chance and try for a TD. Trailing 14-3, the Bengals kicked a field goal on fourth-and-1 from just inside the 2-yard line with 2:16 left in the first half. The Steelers countered with a TD from Willie Parker with eight seconds remaining.

"That's why they're 5-2 and we're 2-5," Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. "Good teams put it in the end zone. Teams like us kick field goals."

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 230 yards with two TDs and one interception while Parker ran for 126 yards with one TD. The Steelers were four-point favorites in the contest.

Detroit Lions 16, Chicago Bears 7

Jon Kitna passed for 268 yards, Kevin Jones ran for 105 yards and a touchdown, in a 16-7 victory over the Bears on Sunday.

Detroit is 5-2 for the first time since 2000 and making a strong bid for its first playoff appearance since 1999. The Lions have had six straight seasons with at least 10 losses and won just three games last year.

Brian Griese did not play like the QB who led the Bears to a 19-16 victory over the Eagles last weekend. He had one TD pass but threw four interceptions, three of them were in the endzone. And Cedric Benson continued to struggle to gain yardage on the ground, he ran for just 50 yards on 13 carries.

The Lions were six-point underdogs in the contest.

Cleveland Browns 27, St. Louis Rams 20

Derek Anderson threw three touchdown passes, two to Braylon Edwards, and the Browns erased an early 14-point deficit in a 27-20 victory over the winless St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

The Rams have been riddled with injuries all season and the bad luck continued as running back Steven Jackson had to leave the contest with lower back spasms after helping the Rams on two TD drives. The Rams fell apart shortly after that.

"It's not an injury that keeps you out for weeks," Jackson said. "I wish it had happened in practice rather than in a game, but the body is funny like that."

The Browns were three-point favorites in the contest despite being on the road.

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