Anthony Smith will be seeing the Patriots in his dreams

As the intricate patterns of the offense unfolded in this game, I thought to myself, it is a good thing that Tom Brady and his receivers are so familiar with one another through both practice and in-game experience given the seemingly infinite spectrum of plays they're expected to execute on command. It is also a good thing that the Patriots got used to playing full-tilt for the entire game; it seems from some of the player comments I've heard that Bill Belichick has put an extra emphasis on conditioning this year from training camp on.

In other words, it is a good thing that earlier this season, Tom Brady wasn't pulled from games at halftime, and a good thing that the Patriots didn't face their tougher opponents with no clue how the first-string offense could perform together in the fourth quarter.

Just sayin'.

Anyway.

To beat the Patriots, you must be as good as they are. It sounds silly and obvious, but when you really think about it, there are many facets and permutations to that, because if the Patriots are one thing above all others, they are thorough. You must be as good as they are at more things than just defense and offense. You must be as good as they are at filling the inevitable holes due to injury. You must also be as good as they are mentally and physically through a full 60 minutes of football.

That was the first reason that Pittsburgh lost. It seemed at first that Pittsburgh had given New England the predicted run for their money. They had succumbed to a big play, Brady to a wide open Randy Moss, after the most beautiful play-action fake I've ever seen, by Lawrence Maroney, to make it 14-3 in the first half, but came back under the leadership of Roethlisberger to make it 14-13 as the final minutes of the half ticked down. The Patriots' offense stalled and they only managed to tack on another 3 points before the half, and it seemed the Steelers might be able to continue the comeback when things got back under way in the third quarter.

But then, they were victimized by another big play--this time a wobbly but successfully executed flea-flicker from Brady to Moss to Brady and then 65 yards in the air to Jabar Gaffney for a much more comfortable score of 24-13. And after that, it seemed as if the first half had been about as long as the Steelers could stay with the Patriots, physically or mentally.

By the time it was 31-13 with just under four minutes to go in the third quarter, the Steelers defense was showing the time-honored sign of football frustration: getting into fights between plays. On the play that scored the Patriots touchdown, Logan Mankins laid a pile-driver on his opponent that quickly became a tangle of blue and yellow uniforms as more got in on the extracurriculars. Mankins' actions were questionable, but it felt like it was the Steelers who were coming apart.

However, mental fatigue and frustration were not the only reasons the Steelers failed to break the Patriots' streak today. There was also an important issue with the Steelers defense which I overlooked when previewing the game yesterday: the absence of Troy Polamalu.

Without the Pro Bowl safety to guide and cover for them, Polamalu's junior counterparts, Anthony Smith and Ike Taylor, were completely exposed by Tom Brady and the Patriots offense, on the big plays and indeed most of the little ones in between. The Patriots had--do not attempt to adjust your sets--22 net yards rushing to 399 net yards passing* on the game. They picked away at Smith and Taylor both physically (through sheer exhaustion) and mentally (Brady kicked off the inter-play debates with Smith in the first quarter), and by the third quarter, the exhausted duo broke (Smith probably kicking himself all the while about his pregame comments guaranteeing a Steelers win in the press). The hapless safeties were also the goats on the big plays, both times forgetting a cardinal rule of defending the Patriots: never come up.

Also not to be overlooked, however, is the Patriots' own defense, who by the looks of it spent the week in a crucible of drills designed to whip them into better shape than they've been all season. This was easily the best defensive game of the year for New England, the crown jewel of which was the goal-line stand in the fourth quarter to preserve the second-half shutout.

Yep, you read that right, second-half shutout. The 13th point scored in the first-half comeback would be the last one Pittsburgh would put on the board. In the end, the Patriots defense held the Steelers to just one touchdown and two field goals for the entire game.

The Pittsburgh defense did make a dent in the Patriots offense, who were a less-than-their-usual-stella-selves 2 for 4 in the red zone and 2 for 3 in goal-to-go situations. There was also the matter of the missed field goal by Gostowski in the second quarter. But over on their side of the ball, the Patriots defense was simply spectacular: the Steelers were oh-fer in red zone and goal-to-go efficiency for the game. The Patriots were stymied at times, but the Steelers put up goose eggs.

The two standout defensive players for me were Mike Vrabel, who seemed to be the designated pass rusher tonight, and came for Roethlisberger on a dizzying number of plays like a bat out of hell; and Rodney Harrison, who was playing under his favorite conditions: as a member of an underestimated (or, perhaps more accurately, critically assessed) defensive unit. Thankfully, Rodney did most of his talking between the lines tonight.

Comments

[Will Smith Anthony Smith will be seeing the Patriots in his dreams]

[...] Dallas South Blog wrote an interesting post today on Anthony Smith will be seeing the Patriots in his dreamsHere’s a quick excerptAs the intricate patterns of the offense unfolded in this game, I thought to myself, it is a good thing that Tom Brady and his receivers are so [...]

[martin b.]

not surprising this happened to Pittsburgh...with a league average offense they just could'nt stay with NE once they stepped on the gas...Polamalu would'nt have helped much...Defense won't win you the superbowl this year...and this is a trend i think we'll see continue into next year...the only teams that have a shot at NE are Indy, Dallas and Green Bay...i see these teams as the only ones with enough octane on offense to keep it close...everyone else is toast...

[Andrew Farrar]

I watched this fixture.

Pittsburgh did very well in the first half, but obviously Belichick had them sussed and the second half saw the Steelers left for roadkill.

The New England defence, somewhat maligned after the fixtures versus Philadelphia and Baltimore, performed very well and I though Vrabel was the man of the match. But, then again, I never though defence was the issue. It was the offence not staying on the field long enough that was the problem - Brady et al stuttered against the Eagles and Ravens in my view, not the defence.

The key to beating the Patriots (but who around here wants them defeated?) is discipline - you have to have the same iron discipline that Belichick has instilled in his team. You can't go around getting yourself worked up, giving up penalties and fighting - sure, the Patriot players joined the fray, but with the mental discipline to be back concentrating seconds later.

Philadelphia, Baltimore and now Pittsburgh all undone by indiscipline, although the Eagles and the Ravens played far better to the Steelers, in my view.

Oh well, on to week fifteen and the revenge of the Belichick. I'm looking forward to that. It should be fun. What will Belichick have his much vaunted team do to Mangini? On side kicks? Multiple going for it on fourth down? Brady in until the bitter end, throwing all the way, including a "hail Mary" with seconds to go?

I'd start parying to whichever God I worshipped for mercy if I were Magini, Belichick's unlikely to allow his Patriots to show much.

[Nathan Fournier]

A funny email I got today

New Patriots Rules in Effect

In order to address the complaints and hurt

feelings of the rest of the NFL, the commissioner has adopted 10 new

"Special Rules" for all New England Patriots games.

They take effect immediately, and are as follows:

1) In the course of an NFL game, if the Patriots

go up by more than 31 points, they are not allowed to play offense

until the opposing team draws to within one score. (Pats will kick-off

after an opposing team's touchdown or FG).

Once the team is within one score, the Pats

offense may play, but Tom Brady may not, unless:

the Pats play with 8 players (including Tom), or

the Pats play with 9 players, but 1 player for the Patriots is chosen

by the opposing team from the stands. no Patriots linebacker is

allowed to play offense, unless that LB is inserted at quarterback.

However, Mike Vrabel cannot be quarterback.

2) If an opposing player states "It's like were

playing 7-on-5s" (7 offense, 5 defense during practice), such as

indicated by Justin Smith, DE, Cincinnati Bengels 10/1/07, the

Patriots must take a time out and serve ice cold lemonade or hot tea

(weather dependent) to the opposing team. Scones are optional.

3)Once the 31 pt rule is in effect, Patriots may

challenge any play, but the opposing team gets veto power over the

referee.

4)Once the Pats offense is allowed back onto the

field (7 pts), for any forward pass the Pats QB must point to the

receiver and call out his number BEFORE passing. If Tom Brady is

quarterbacking at the time, he must do that, plus turn the opposing

team's water cooler into wine BEFORE passing.

5)Belichick must diagram any Patriots play to the

opposing defense and ensure they understand exactly how to disrupt the

play. This all must be done within the play clock. If this process is

not complete prior to the play clock expiring, the Patriots will be

assessed a delay of game and double unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

6)Randy Moss must play with 10lb ankle weights on

each ankle. An additional pound will be added for each TD this season.

7)Wes Welker is not allowed to have "that crazy

look" in his eyes. 10 yd, "crazy eyes"penalty assessed.

8 Tom Brady must immediately stop dating

supermodels as he will not be allowed to date anyone that is more

attractive then the least attractive significant other of an opposing

team member (including coaches). He also must start doing commercials

for every product imaginable, especially ones where he chants "cut

that meat!"or refers to himself "as a 6'5" quarterback with a

laser-rocket arm"

9)Bill Belichick is not allowed to be within 100

yds of any infant, for fear that his evil supergenius powers would

assimilate such a defenseless creature into the Patriots System. We

have already se en this effect on an inordinate amount of chipmunks,

squirrels, and 'possum that commit suicide while crossing Rte

1 to reach Gillette Stadium.

10)Patriots must respect all opposing players

feelings and apologize for every first down. Touchdowns must be

followed by a written apology and a fruit basket presented with a hug.

[Beth]

i think the funniest thing i've seen all day is that 10 yd. "crazy eyes" penalty. thanks for sharing, nathan.

[Jamie]

Wow what a great game to come back to after a weekend away! Looks like the boys are back! Anybody care to start the over/under for the upcoming Jets game?

[Beth]

i have it at 72. all patriots points.

[Nathan Fournier]

no problem keep up the good work

[Nathan Fournier]

Another one

A man in Topeka , Kansas, decided to write a book about churches around the country.. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there..

Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read, �Calls: $10,000 a minute.�

Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to God..

The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and around the United States, he found more phones with the same sign and the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Massachusetts. Upon entering a church in Boston, he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read "Calls: .35 cents."

Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor, "Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads only .35 cents a call. Why? Why?"

The pastor, smiling benignly, replied: "Son, you're in Boston, Massachusetts; home of the Boston Red Sox, the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Boston College.." You're in God's Country, It's a local call.