Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks for an opening to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks for an opening to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally) Credit: Mark Tenally

Landover, Md. — Ben Roethlisberger recovered his own fumble at a pivotal moment and didn’t look back, throwing three touchdown passes to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 38-16 victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday night.

Roethlisberger completed 27 of 37 passes for 300 yards, including two touchdowns to All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown and another to Eli Rogers. Often playing on the opposite side from Josh Norman and tormenting cornerback Bashaud Breeland, Brown made eight catches for 126 yards.

Starting in place of the suspended Le’Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.

Washington led 6-0 and appeared to have another scoring opportunity late in the first quarter when linebacker Ryan Kerrigan sacked and stripped Roethlisberger deep in Pittsburgh territory. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey knocked the ball out of Kerrigan’s hands, and Roethlisberger dived on it at his own 13-yard line.

Roethlisberger then guided Pittsburgh 87 yards down the field, finishing the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Brown on a gutsy fourth-and-1 call from the Washington 29. The next time he got the ball, Big Ben took the Steelers 67 yards on 14 plays to make it 14-6.

Pittsburgh’s passing attack got clicking, but Kirk Cousins and the Redskins couldn’t keep up. With Matt Jones and the running game grounded and tight end Jordan Reed taken out of the picture, Cousins finished 30 of 43 for 329 yards and two interceptions.

Browns Lose RG3To Should Injury

Berea, Ohio — Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III broke a bone in his left shoulder and will miss at least eight games.

Griffin was injured on an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 29-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. As he tried to get out of bounds, Griffin was drilled by Eagles defensive back Jalen Mills.

The team said Griffin will be placed on injured reserve — under new rules he can brought off the list — and will be evaluated in 3 to 4 weeks.

Brady BannerComes Down

Foxborough, Mass. — The Patriots have removed a banner-sized photo of Tom Brady on a light tower outside of Gillette Stadium.

Workers took down the banner, as well as a smaller No. 12 banner on top of the tower, shortly after the start of Sunday’s game at Arizona.

In an interview with the Patriots’ flagship radio partner, 98.5 The Sports Hub, team owner Robert Kraft said the plan was always for the banner to come down.

He added it was important to make sure there were no distractions for the team now that the regular season has started.

The banner originally went up last week, on the first day of Brady’s four-game “Deflategate” suspension. Brady isn’t eligible to return to the active roster until Oct. 3.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP_NFL