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NFL
AFC: Patriots 41, Steelers 27
The postseason veteran, Tom Brady, outplays the postseason rookie, Ben Roethlisberger.
By ROGER MILLS
Published January 24, 2005
PITTSBURGH - History says a rookie quarterback, no matter how special his season has been, can't lead his team to the Super Bowl.
He's supposed to make mistakes. He's supposed to crumble under the pressure. He's supposed to look like he was playing college football one year ago.
Who are we to doubt history?
In yet another display of their dominance over the AFC, the Patriots tormented Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into three interceptions, took advantage of another turnover, got another solid effort from Tom Brady and proved their two Super Bowl titles in the past three seasons are no magic act.
With a 41-27 victory at Heinz Field on Sunday, the Patriots will face the Eagles on Feb.6 in Jacksonville.
"There were a lot of big plays in that game," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "It's very gratifying. These players come to work every day ready to work.
"They laid it on the line with a lot of blood and sweat left out there, and I'm happy that they have this kind of achievement to show for it. I've never been around a harder working group of guys. They have stood up to all the competition this year."
Roethlisberger, trying to become the first rookie quarterback to reach the Super Bowl, was 14-of-24 for 226 yards and two touchdowns. But he had three interceptions, including one during the second quarter that safety Rodney Harrison returned 87 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-10.
"He had just rolled out and looked at the tight end, and I tried to anticipate it and make the right read," Harrison said. "The rest is history. We knew he has happy feet.
"We knew we would have opportunities to make plays on the ball. Yes, it was a big play, but there were so many other big plays in the game."
Said Steelers coach Bill Cowher, "The kid will learn. He is going to be a good quarterback. It is a very tough learning experience."
While Roethlisberger's streak of 14 wins came to a crashing halt, Brady, the two-time Super Bowl MVP now 56-14 as a starter, continued to add to his postseason legend.
He was 14-of-21 for 207 yards, no interceptions and two touchdowns. That included a 60-yard touchdown to Deion Branch in the first quarter and a 45-yarder to Branch to set up a touchdown in the second quarter.
That helped the Patriots take a 24-3 halftime lead.
"Tom is kind of the same guy every day, every game," Belichick said. "Not every play is perfect, but most of them are pretty good. He's very well-prepared. He's a smart guy, a tough guy, and he's a great competitor. I don't think the magnitude of the game, the crowd noise or the situations bother him. He's able to focus on what he has to do."
Brady, who averaged 230.8 passing yards during the regular season and had 144 Jan. 16 against the Colts, piloted the Patriots to 322 yards, 64 more than the Steelers allowed on average in the regular season.
And their 41 points were the most given up by the Steelers this season, 11 more than against the Ravens on Sept.19 and the Giants on Dec.18. Pittsburgh also had allowed just two touchdowns and four field goals in their previous five home games.
"What a great team effort against a tremendous team in one of the toughest environments you can play in," Brady said.
With Sunday's win, Brady, the former sixth-round pick who was not good enough to beat out Bucs quarterback Brian Griese at Michigan, took his postseason record to 8-0.
"It's not about me and what I'm accomplishing," Brady said. "There are a lot of guys who have a hand in this. I have been a part of teams that had great defenses. We have a bunch of guys who play really well in pressurized situations, a lot of clutch players."
Roethlisberger had the early jitters of a rookie starting in the title game. His first pass sailed high and slightly behind Antwaan Randle El.
After bouncing off the hands of Randle El and cornerback Asante Samuel, the fluttering ball was picked off by safety Eugene Wilson at the Steelers 48.
New England took a 3-0 lead on a 48-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal five plays later.
The Steelers offered up their second gift of the first quarter on the next possession. Jerome Bettis fumbled after a hit from linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, and linebacker Mike Vrabel recovered.
The Patriots stunned the Steelers, and the crowd, on the next play when Brady launched the 60-yarder to Branch for the score.
The game's decisive moment came midway through the third quarter, just as the Steelers looked to be creeping back into the game after Bettis' 5-yard touchdown run made it 24-10.
On the ensuing drive, the Steelers' Willie Williams appeared to strip receiver David Givens after an 18-yard completion and recover the fumble. But the play was reversed upon a replay review. To make matters worse for the Steelers, linebacker Clark Haggans was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul to put the ball on their 25.
On the next play, Corey Dillon, injured during the teams' regular-season meeting, rambled for a touchdown.
"Unfortunately, a lot of people will see it as all for nothing because we did not go all the way," Roethlisberger said. "But I learned a lot this year. We had a lot of fun."
[Last modified January 24, 2005, 06:37:11]
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