Pats, Steelers in AFC East Action
New England Patriots Face Pittsburgh in NFL Battle on Sunday
Can the 12-0 Patriots continue in their quest for a perfect season? Or are the 9-3 Steelers ready to put an end to New England's march to perfection?
The New England Patriots attempt to extend their perfect 2007 record against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in what perhaps may prove the Pats’ toughest challenge of the season.
No question Pittsburgh is loaded for Bear – or, Pats in this case. And no question New England is reeling after two consecutive, narrow, skin-of-their-teeth victories over the past two weeks. But, likewise, there’s no question that New England has the best club overall in the National Football League.
If the Patriots are due for a letdown – assuming their recent marginal wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens don’t qualify – it shouldn’t be against the Steelers, a team that always seems to hold its own against New England. No, that letdown should occur in Week 14, 15 or 16, against the New York Jets, the Miami Dolphins or the New York Giants.
The Steelers sport the No. 1 defense in the NFL. They also have a premiere running back in Willie Parker, who’s already rushed for nearly 1,100 yards thus far this year. And wide receiver Hines Ward, who last week broke the all-time career record for touchdown receptions in Pittsburgh history. And they have Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, a QB who excels when throwing on the run.
But even though the Steelers have more going for them in their attempt to top the Pats this season – with the exception of the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys, both who New England already vanquished – most prognosticators, including this one, think New England still has more than enough in the tank to win Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
The Pats still sport the best quarterback in the NFL, Tom Brady, who’s on track to break the all-time single-season record for touchdown passes. And wide receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth, all above average receivers. Factor in their running backs and they should mount a potent offense.
On the defensive side of the ball, despite their loss of linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick earned his bones as a defensive guru, par excellence. Even working with a short week of practice, Belichick should have a defensive scheme worked up to contain the Steelers’ offense.
And a second-year Steeler foolishly opened his mouth this week, predicting victory over the 12-0 Patriots. "We're going to win," defensive back Anthony Smith told The Associated Press. "Yeah, I can guarantee a win. As long as we come out and do what we got to do. Both sides of the ball are rolling, and if our special teams come through for us, we've got a good chance to win."
Smith said New England should be worried about Pittsburgh, 9-3 on the year. "People keep asking me if we're ready for the Patriots," Smith said. "They should be asking if they're ready for us."
The Patriots took a dim view of Smith’s soothsaying abilities. Linebacker Junior Seau said the remark was bulletin board material. “There is obviously a build-up before the game and that's the way this started. There is going to be talk every week. We're not going to pay attention to that. We're going to try to do what we do every week, which is work. Hopefully that will be good enough come Sunday. Come Sunday, all the talk will be between the white lines. It always is."
Pats’ safety Rodney Harrison summed it up by saying, "The game is won and lost between the lines, not in the media. We've been in this situation before, where guys are talking. It just doesn't matter what you say, it’s what you do.”
