Post by MizzouTiger on Dec 10, 2007 3:08:21 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/396929.html
Patriots rout Steelers 34-13
The Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. | The Patriots are dominant once more. And unbeaten.
Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes, shattering Steelers safety Anthony Smith’s guarantee of a victory. Randy Moss caught two of the passes, and New England crushed Pittsburgh 34-13 on Sunday.
The lopsided victory on Sunday against the NFL’s stingiest defense followed a two-game struggle in which the Patriots, 13-0, needed late comebacks to beat teams with losing records, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
They had a short week to prepare for the Steelers, 9-4, after beating the Ravens on Monday night on a touchdown with 44 seconds left.
The Patriots can become the first team since the 1972 Dolphins to finish a regular season undefeated; those Dolphins were 14-0 and then won three postseason games for the NFL’s only perfect season.
The victory clinched a first-round playoff bye, and the Patriots should be big favorites to take a 15-0 record into their season finale at the New York Giants.
The Steelers would have clinched a playoff berth with a victory, but they remain on top of the AFC North.
Brady is four scoring passes shy of Peyton Manning’s record of 49 set in 2004 and moved ahead of Dan Marino’s 44 in 1986 into third place. Marino holds the second spot with 48.
Moss caught touchdown passes of 4 and 63 yards in a span of 1:59 midway through the first half and has 19, second most for a season. Jerry Rice’s record of 22 is in sight.
Brady also threw scoring passes of 56 yards to Jabar Gaffney and 2 yards to Wes Welker.
It was a beating similar to so many the Patriots handed out in their first 10 games, when their average victory margin was 25.4 points.
The Steelers were unlikely victims. They started the day allowing just 12.9 points per game with only one reception of more than 40 yards. The Patriots had two catches of more than 50.
Both of them put Smith in the spotlight, as he had been on Wednesday when he guaranteed a Pittsburgh victory.
Brady finished 32 of 46 for 399 yards and no interceptions. The Patriots all but abandoned the run at halftime and gained 22 yards in nine carries for the game.
The Patriots’ defense held the Steelers to 156 yards and no points in the second half.
Moss gained 135 yards, and Gaffney had 122 as each caught seven passes. Willie Parker rushed for 124 yards for Pittsburgh.
Patriots rout Steelers 34-13
The Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. | The Patriots are dominant once more. And unbeaten.
Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes, shattering Steelers safety Anthony Smith’s guarantee of a victory. Randy Moss caught two of the passes, and New England crushed Pittsburgh 34-13 on Sunday.
The lopsided victory on Sunday against the NFL’s stingiest defense followed a two-game struggle in which the Patriots, 13-0, needed late comebacks to beat teams with losing records, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
They had a short week to prepare for the Steelers, 9-4, after beating the Ravens on Monday night on a touchdown with 44 seconds left.
The Patriots can become the first team since the 1972 Dolphins to finish a regular season undefeated; those Dolphins were 14-0 and then won three postseason games for the NFL’s only perfect season.
The victory clinched a first-round playoff bye, and the Patriots should be big favorites to take a 15-0 record into their season finale at the New York Giants.
The Steelers would have clinched a playoff berth with a victory, but they remain on top of the AFC North.
Brady is four scoring passes shy of Peyton Manning’s record of 49 set in 2004 and moved ahead of Dan Marino’s 44 in 1986 into third place. Marino holds the second spot with 48.
Moss caught touchdown passes of 4 and 63 yards in a span of 1:59 midway through the first half and has 19, second most for a season. Jerry Rice’s record of 22 is in sight.
Brady also threw scoring passes of 56 yards to Jabar Gaffney and 2 yards to Wes Welker.
It was a beating similar to so many the Patriots handed out in their first 10 games, when their average victory margin was 25.4 points.
The Steelers were unlikely victims. They started the day allowing just 12.9 points per game with only one reception of more than 40 yards. The Patriots had two catches of more than 50.
Both of them put Smith in the spotlight, as he had been on Wednesday when he guaranteed a Pittsburgh victory.
Brady finished 32 of 46 for 399 yards and no interceptions. The Patriots all but abandoned the run at halftime and gained 22 yards in nine carries for the game.
The Patriots’ defense held the Steelers to 156 yards and no points in the second half.
Moss gained 135 yards, and Gaffney had 122 as each caught seven passes. Willie Parker rushed for 124 yards for Pittsburgh.