Patriots talk starts to gather full steam
Now they have the reigning NFL champs at home in a regular-season game, and the rematch of Tom Brady vs. Ben Roethlisberger could set the Heinz Field scoreboard ablaze.
Roethlisberger became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 500 yards in a game three times when the Steelers came from 11 points down in the fourth quarter Sunday night to dispatch Baltimore, 39-38. He is at the top of his game, as is his offense at the right time of year.
His defense is not, so he might need more Sunday.
“We can win a shootout against anybody,” Le’Veon Bell said. “I feel like our offense has a lot of playmakers. We have one of the best players in the league in Antonio Brown, making plays on the outside. We have an offensive line doing what they do up front. I make my plays here and there. So I feel like we can score points whenever we need to. We scored 39 not playing our best. So, yeah, I think we can win a shootout against anybody.”
That’s not just anybody coming to town.
Brady’s not the elephant in the room, as Tomlin might say; he’s the old G.O.A.T. — greatest of all time — and odds-on favorite to pocket another league MVP at age 40.
His passing offense (292.6 per game), total offense (413.2) and scoring offense (31.1) led the league entering the Patriots game Monday night at Miami.
The Steelers defense will have to perform better than it did against Baltimore.
“We’re ready for any game,” defensive end Cam Heyward said. “I know we play the Patriots next week. We’ve shown we can win in all types of ways, whether it’s defense, offense, special teams. Guys are just stepping up in key moments. I believe in this team. This is nothing against anybody else, but I’ve got my money on us every time.”
Speaking of money, the Patriots and Steelers have grown closer in the view of odds-makers. They are the 1 and 2 favorites to win the Super Bowl. Where New England once had a large lead in those odds, they now are 9-4 compared to the Steelers’ 4-1, according to Bovada.
The Steelers, 5-0 against AFC North foes with only Cleveland left New Year’s Eve, previously went unbeaten against their division opponents in 2008, when they most recently won a Super Bowl.
“Coach Tomlin said it in the spring and training camp, we want to go undefeated in the AFC North,” DeCastro said. “We have one game left.”
The Steelers set more records by winning their third division title in the past four years. It was their 23rd division title since the 1970 NFL merger with the AFL, more than any other team. Their 30 playoff berths also are the most since then. More highlights: • Roethlisberger’s 134 regular-season wins as a starting quarterback ranks seventh in NFL history.
• Not only is he the only quarterback to surpass 500 yards in three games, his 10 games of 400 or more is tied for fourth behind only Drew Brees (15), Peyton Manning (14) and Dan Marino (13). He and Marino are tied with four games of at least 450 passing yards, most in league history.
• Chris Boswell is in position to set a team record for most field goals. He has 32. Norm Johnson kicked 34 in 1995, and Gary Anderson 33 in 1985.