Sports
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
NFL
Branch catches big passes
By ROGER MILLS
Published January 24, 2005
PITTSBURGH - This was supposed to be a low-scoring slugfest.
Hard hitting. Hard running. Tenacious defense.
But Sunday's victory by New England turned into an air raid. And receiver Deion Branch , who did not play in the team's regular-season matchup Oct.31, had quite the impact, four receptions for 116 yards and a 60-yard touchdown.
"Deion came up big as he usually does," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He's such a dependable player for us. He comes up big."
Branch and quarterback Tom Brady connected for two long passes.
Against the top defense in the NFL, Branch had receptions of 60 yards for the first-quarter touchdown and 45 during the second quarter to set up David Givens ' 9-yard touchdown.
"I just had to make a couple more moves. Tom waited on me to make those moves, and the line held up for enough time for me to make those moves," Branch said. "We're just taking more shots down field and stretching the field a little bit more. (Tom) has always been able to throw the ball downfield."
Belichick, accused of being ultraconservative, said his offense isn't opposed to throwing the deep ball.
"Like usual, we try to throw to the open guy," he said.
DILLON DIFFERENCE?: Last week, much was made of Patriots running back Corey Dillon 's absence the first time the teams met, a 34-20 Steelers win. Would Dillon, who rushed for 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season, have made a difference?
In 13 games against the Steelers while with the Bengals, Dillon rushed for 893 yards on 217 carries and five touchdowns. He had two 100-yard games and two more with 90-plus.
Sunday, Dillon rushed for 73 yards on 24 carries with one score. As a team, the Patriots rushed for 126 yards on 32 carries.
"It was a struggle," Belichick said. "That's a good defensive football team. Our real goal was to make sure we were competitive in the running game. We didn't get stuffed. We ran well enough to keep them honest."
GOOD CONDITIONS: More than 200 people worked overnight clearing the stands and the tarp covering Heinz Field. And the field, which is 95 percent grass and 5 percent artificial fibers, had several bare spots painted green.
The game-time temperature was 11 degrees with a 9 mph wind for a wind chill of minus-1.
ODDS AND ENDS: The Steelers' regular-season victory ended the Patriots' win streak at 21. Sunday, the Patriots ended the Steelers' win streak at 15. ... Patriots defensive tackle Richard Seymour did not play because of left knee injury. ... So much for the Sports Illustrated jinx. Sports Illustrated has a reputation of quickly jinxing athletes/teams who appear on its cover. Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi was on the cover last week. ... Cornerback Hank Poteat , picked up and released by the Bucs during the season, was activated by the Patriots. Signed before the Colts game, both of his postseason tackles came Sunday.
[Last modified January 24, 2005, 06:28:54]
Share your thoughts on this story
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor
