CLEVELAND (AP) — Steelers coach Mike Tomlin promised his team would “unleash hell” in December.

On Thursday night, hell froze over.

Sacking quarterback Ben Roethlisberger eight times, the Cleveland Browns ended a 12-game losing streak against Pittsburgh with a 13-6 victory, dealing the Super Bowl champions their fifth straight loss and one that may have done irreparable damage to their playoff hopes.

With a wind-chill factor dipping well below zero, the Browns (2-11) put the Steelers on ice, sending them to their second loss in a row since Tomlin’s famous prediction.

Josh Cribbs rushed for 87 yards out of the wildcat formation, Chris Jennings scored the first rushing touchdown by a Browns running back in over a year and Cleveland’s patchwork defense, ranked last in the league, contained the Steelers for four quarters.

Pittsburgh’s 2½-hour trip home probably felt like it lasted a month.

“They’re going to hear that bus’ engine all the way back,” Cribbs said. “That’s a lonely ride. I’ve ridden that ride for five years now. It’s time for them to hear that engine all the way home while they look at the stat sheet.”

Cleveland’s win was its first over Pittsburgh at home since 2000, ended the Browns’ 10-game losing streak in their lakefront stadium and was just their second in 20 games against their archrival.

When Pittsburgh’s Santonio Holmes was tackled on a punt return on the final play and the last second ticked off the scoreboard’s clock, Browns fans, who were nearly outnumbered by Terrible Towel-waving Steelers supporters, hugged and danced in the frozen aisles. Several Cleveland players sprinted downfield and jumped into the Dawg Pound section to celebrate.

“It means everything,” Cribbs said. “There are a lot of Steelers fans around the city so I hope people go to work and kick those Steelers fans.”

Pittsburgh is going to need help to make the playoffs, a stunning freefall for the Super Bowl champions who reached the season’s halfway point at 6-2.

But unexpected losses to Kansas City, Oakland and Cleveland — three of the NFL’s worst teams with a combined record of 9-28 — have pushed the Steelers to the brink.

“To lose five straight coming off a Super Bowl from last year is embarrassing,” wide receiver Hines Ward said. “There’s nothing fun about losing games, especially five in a row. We’re better than that. We should play better than that. With three games left, you’re going to see who really wants to go out here and play for the pride of this organization and this city and who doesn’t want to be around here.”

The Steelers were playing their fifth straight game without Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, but his absence had nothing to do with Pittsburgh’s inability to move the ball against a Cleveland defense missing four starters.

Roethlisberger, who dropped to 10-1 in 11 career starts against the Browns, had no explanation.

“Give them credit, I guess,” he said. “I didn’t play my best game and it showed.”

Roethlisberger tried to rally the Steelers, but his fourth-down pass to Holmes with less than two minutes left was knocked down by linebacker David Bowens.

The win was just the second for Cleveland’s embattled first-year coach Eric Mangini, who certainly helped his job security by beating Pittsburgh, something no Browns coach had done since Chris Palmer nine years ago. Mangini’s future will likely be decided by whomever owner Randy Lerner brings in to run the team’s football operations. But that’s for another day. Mangini enjoyed the win.

“We all know how important the games against Pittsburgh are,” he said. “It’s exciting for me, for the team, and hopefully for the city as well. We’re going to continue to work hard. I’m happy for them and proud of them.”

Cribbs, who has returned three kickoffs for TDs in his career against the Steelers, burned them again. He ripped off a career-best 37-yard run, set up a field goal with a 55-yard punt return and picked up a crucial first down on a 14-yard run in the fourth quarter when the Browns were trying to milk the clock.

“I would love to be his agent. I would ask for quarterback money, receiver money, running back money, add it all up and give it to him,” Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend said. “Every time we play him, he’s done amazing things. If I was his agent, I’d be in that office right now.”

Brady Quinn, making his first career start against Pittsburgh, completed just one pass in the second half and finished 6 of 19 for 90 yards. But his paltry stats hardly mattered. Beating the Steelers was far more important.

“I wish I would have had a better game, but it’s funny how things work out,” he said. “It’s hard to describe it. I’m happy for our team, our coaches, our fans. It’s been a long time coming after all we’ve been through this year. It tells you what kind of character you have on this team.”

Roethlisberger went 18 of 32 for 201 yards. He had trouble throwing in the swirling winds that consistently blew over 20 mph and the Steelers, who went just 3 of 14 on third down, were never able to establish their running game against the Browns’ defense.

“We’ve found new and different ways to not rise up at critical moments and we’re losing football games because of it,” Tomlin said. “This one happened in all three phases.”

NOTES: Jennings’ TD was the first by a Browns back since Nov. 17 last season. ... Ward played despite a hamstring injury and caught four passes for 21 yards. ... Holmes, the MVP in Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl win over Arizona, surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in four seasons. ... Browns DE Robaire Smith injured his hip in the first half but returned.