The Pittsburgh Steelers stayed on track to clinch the AFC North division title with a 27-3 victory over Carolina.
In a game that launched the penultimate week of NFL regular-season action, Pittsburgh improved to 11-4, rebounding from a defeat last Sunday to the New York Jets.
"It's good to be in the clubhouse before everyone else this weekend with a necessary win," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
Already assured of a playoff berth, the Steelers will secure the division title and a first-round postseason bye with a victory over Cleveland in their final game of the season on January 2.
The division race could even end as early as Sunday, if Cleveland upsets Baltimore.
"There's some hardware out there for us, the AFC North title, and that more than anything is what we're focused on," Tomlin said.
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 22 of 32 passing attempts for 320 yards with no interceptions as the Steelers took a 20-0 halftime lead and never faltered.
The Panthers fell to 2-13 and remained the league's only team without a victory on the road this season.
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