FOXBORO — 

It goes on every week with every team in the NFL. A player goes down and someone shouts, “Man up.”

Injuries are an unwelcome, but grudgingly accepted part of football and no organization is immune to their potentially crippling consequences. But how the talent drain due to sprains, tears, twists, breaks and head shots is dealt with plays a crucial role in determining whether a season will be a success or failure.

The Patriots are 13-2 in large part because Tom Brady, who’s on the verge of becoming the third player in league history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, has mostly remained upright. That he’s been able to do so despite multiple injuries to his pocket protectors can be directly traced to the universally acknowledged Patriot Way.

“I think there are probably a lot of places that may or may not have handled what we’ve had to go through up front as well,” said Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters, a 12th-year veteran and first-time Patriot. “I think that has to do a lot with the environment here. I think that has a lot to do with the way the organization has been built.

“Over the years you’ve seen a lot of players you’ve never heard of all of a sudden show up and do well and I think it has a lot to do with the way the coaches coach and the way the players take preparation seriously.

“I can definitely say I’ve been around places and been on different teams where a lot of people would have been in frantic or panic situations if they had to deal with some of the things we’ve had to deal with this year.”

At the middle of the medical madness has been the center position, which has dealt with more shuffling than a poker table at Foxwoods. Waters, the only one of the Patriots’ five starting offensive linemen with a chance to play in all 16 games, has lined up next to four different players.

Dan Koppen, who had been snapping for Brady since 2003, suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1. Dan Connolly stepped in at center until he was injured and replaced by Ryan Wendell, who was in turn injured and replaced by Nick McDonald.

Three rather anonymous substitutes, all of whom were undrafted and former practice squad players — two of whom were previously cut by other teams — filled in and did what they were supposed to do with minimal disruption to one of the most complex and prolific offenses in the league.

The bar is set high in Foxboro, and it isn’t lowered for anyone.

“Nobody comes here with limited expectations of themselves because I don’t think that’s going to be allowed here,” Waters said before amending himself. “That’s definitely not allowed here.”

Right tackle Sebastian Vollmer has only been available for six games due to back and foot injuries. Left guard Logan Mankins, a four-time Pro Bowler, suffered a knee injury on Christmas Eve that is expected to sideline him until at least mid-January and left tackle Matt Light, a Pro Bowler last season, missed that game with an ankle injury.

The Patriots replaced that trio against the Dolphins with rookies Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon and journeyman Donald Thomas. And while things were a little rough for one half, the patchwork line ultimately solved its communication issues and allowed Brady to do his thing as the Patriots rallied for a 27-24 victory.

“Everyone knows going into a game that they have to be ready to play,” director of player personnel Nick Caserio said. “Whatever happens before the game, whether it’s a day before the game or the day of the game, there’s really not much you can do about it. We have a lot of confidence in the players that are active for the game, so the expectation is that they’re going to go out there and perform and do their jobs.”

Bill Belichick seconded the motion while pointing out if the coaches didn’t have confidence in the player, he wouldn’t be on the field. You might get called on to douse a fire around here, but you’ll never be thrown into one.

“If they’re out there, we have confidence in them,” Belichick said. “If they’re not out there, there’s either another player ahead of them or we’re not confident that they can go out there and do it. It’s as simple as that. We’re not going to put anybody out there on the field that we don’t have confidence in.”

That in-game trust is built in practice where the offensive line is overseen by one of the best positional coaches in the league.

The Foxboro Faithful are quick to question the credentials of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and wonder if Matt Patricia is fit to be defensive coordinator — de facto or otherwise. But when it comes to Dante Scarnecchia, there are no such concerns.

“He does a hell of a job,” O’Brien said of the 63-year-old, no-nonsense assistant who has worked in the NFL since 1982, all but two of the years with the Patriots.

“I can’t say enough about Dante,” Brady said last week during his weekly paid appearance on WEEI. “His leadership at that position. He really handles the offensive line and coaches those guys extremely hard and he expects nothing less than their best every single day in practice and obviously in the game. I think you really see that.”

It all seems so seamlessly simple, but it isn’t. Just ask the 2-13 Rams or 6-9 Bills, both of whom have missed three-fifths of their starting offensive line for much of a season in which they ended up floundering after no one answered the call to “Man up.”

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Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) on fourth down in the 4th quarter. (Staff photo by Keith Nordstrom)

DENVER (AP) – Not this time, Tim Tebow.

Not with Tom Brady on hand.

Brady threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and the New England Patriots shut down Tebow’s late-game heroics and clinched a playoff berth with a 41-23 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

“It was a really good day for us,” Brady said. “Very emotional game. It was really rocking early. We showed some mental toughness.”

The Patriots (11-3) won their sixth straight game and another AFC East title by bouncing back from an early 17-6 deficit and an awful first quarter in which they were outgained on the ground 167 yards to 4.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws under pressure from Broncos outside linebacker D.J. Williams. (Staff photo by Keith Nordstrom)

This time, there was no last-minute magic from Tebow, who had guided the Broncos (8-6) to four straight fourth-quarter comebacks and six straight wins.

Instead of another slow start followed by a fantastic finish, the Broncos started fast and then fizzled.

They scored on their first three possessions and then were done in by a trio of turnovers in the final 81/2 minutes of the second quarter.

“We did have things going pretty well early, scored on the first three possessions and felt like we were moving the ball good and then we put it on the ground,” Tebow said. “That’s something you can’t do against a great team and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

“Besides that, we were right there with them.”

Champ Bailey had said the Broncos needed a big game against a big QB to prove to themselves and others that they were not just a curiosity but a contender.

They didn’t get it on this day.

“We showed today that we’re not ready to go to the playoffs and make a push,” Bailey said. “We’ve got to get better and we only have two or three weeks to do it. If we don’t, then we’ll be sitting home.”

For a sixth straight season.

With their first loss since Oct. 30, the AFC West-leading Broncos face a tougher path to the playoffs, with a trip to Buffalo next week followed by a season finale against Kansas City, which ended Green Bay’s 19-game winning streak Sunday behind Kyle Orton, the player Tebow replaced in Denver.

“I definitely feel like we’re all right,” said Tebow, now 7-2 as Denver’s starter.

He threw for 194 yards and ran for 93 yards and two scores but was sacked four times, including a 28-yard loss in the fourth quarter.

“I thought he improved,” coach John Fox said. “He’ll continue to improve. This was a setback, no doubt about that. But sometimes setbacks are setups for bigger things to come.”

After all, the last time Tebow lost, to Detroit on Oct. 30, he was put on notice that his starting job was a week-to-week proposition, and Tebow won his next six starts.

The one thing Tebow and the Broncos haven’t been able to do is keep up with the league’s elite passers. Denver has faced four QBs currently ranked in the top-10 in yards passing – Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers (twice) and Brady. They’re 1-4 in those games.

Asked if Tebow & Co. can keep up with the league’s top passers if they make it into the playoffs, Fox said: “I can’t predict that. He’s gotten better every week. Six or seven weeks ago, people said he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. He does that. I think he can do that. I don’t think that was why we lost the game tonight.”

Brady was.

“He’s still the best out there, in my opinion,” Bailey said. “And you make mistakes against a guy like that, he’s going to make you pay. That’s pretty much what happened all day.”

Safety Brian Dawkins missed the game with a neck injury and the Broncos missed him as they had to rely on rookies Quinton Carter and Raheem Moore.

“You can’t expect to get the same results when you lose a guy like that,” Bailey said. “But, at the same time, guys have to step up as professionals. You can’t play like that and expect to get wins.”

Brady was 23 of 34, including his first scoring toss to Chad Ochocinco. His TD run was his first of the year.

Brady made up for another bad day by the Patriots’ defense to beat the Broncos for the second time in eight career starts – the only team with a winning record against the three-time Super Bowl champion.

The Broncos’ 167 yards rushing in the first quarter – 11 more than their league-leading per-game average – represented the biggest output in any quarter of the Belichick era in New England.

But they would manage just 85 more.

After the Patriots fell behind 16-7, they went to the no-huddle and Brady threw a 1-yard TD strike to Aaron Hernandez, who set career highs with nine catches for 129 yards.

The Broncos’ ball-control offense stumbled after that.

Lance Ball, who earlier scored his first TD in the NFL on a beautiful 32-yard scamper, fumbled at his own 19 and linebacker Rob Ninkovich recovered, leading to Stephen Gostkowski’s 21-yard field goal put the Patriots up for good at 17-16.

Then, defensive end Mark Anderson, subbing for Andre Carter, who seriously injured his left knee earlier in the game, forced and recovered a fumble by Tebow at the Broncos 40. Six plays later, Brady took it in himself from a yard out to make it 24-16.

Brady celebrated his eighth career TD with a masterful spike.

“I don’t get in the end zone very often,” Brady said. “Maybe once a season. So, when I do I get pretty excited.”

The Broncos’ bumbling ways – which included a bad snap on an extra point attempt – continued when punt returner Quan Cosby tried to field a punt on the run and muffed it with three seconds left.

Dane Fletcher recovered for New England and Gostkowski trotted out for a 34-yard field goal to make it 27-16 at halftime.

Tebow’s 2-yard keeper with 8:41 left pulled the Broncos to 34-23 and had the crowd thinking comeback again, but Brady led the Patriots on another 80-yard scoring drive, this one culminating in BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ 1-yard TD run.

“The more we fight, the better this team gets,” defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. “We knew they were going to come out fighting. They were going to come out fast and explosive. Our main goal was to weather the storm.”

Notes: The Patriots qualified for the playoffs for the 13th time since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994. … The Broncos haven’t won seven straight since 1998. … New England hadn’t won in Denver since 2003. … Brady’s last TD run was Nov. 14, 2010, at Pittsburgh.

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The New England Patriots travel to Denver to face off with the Broncos on Sunday. The Patriots will attempt to extend their current five-game winning streak; with a high powered offense that has had to offset their defensive deficiencies thus far. New England head coach Bill Belichick will look to improve on his 3-6 record against the Broncos; as Denver looks to add yet another victory in their march for an improbable AFC West title.

Not only will Bill Belichick have to game plan for the traditional high altitude in Denver, but also the heightened optimism of Broncos’s fans; as “Tebow fever” has a stranglehold on the region. Thoughts of a division title were foreign in Denver back in October; with the Broncos possessing a 1-4 record heading into the team’s bye week. At that moment, head coach John Fox made a decision that would change the team’s fortunes the rest of the way; inserting second-year quarterback Tim Tebow for struggling incumbent starter Kyle Orton.

Since the quarterback change, the Broncos have won seven of eight games; including six dramatic come-from-behind wins led by the spirited efforts of Tebow. The former Florida Gator and Heisman Award winning quarterback has transformed the city of Denver and the league into believers; in spite of an unorthodox throwing motion and less traditional physical running style that has not hampered his, nor the team’s success.

The passing statistics do not begin to demonstrate Tim Tebow’s contributions on the field. While Tebow has completed only 48.5 percent of his passes and 117.3 yards per game, his athleticism and physical running ability has more than compensated for the passing deficiency. With an option offense in Denver tailored to Tebow’s strengths, the lefty as he has amassed 517 rushing years this season; supplementing the NFL’s top-rated rushing offense. Broncos running back Willis McGahee is on pace for his first 1,000 yard season since 2007 with the Baltimore Ravens.

Encountering Denver’s option offense will be a first for the Patriots under Bill Belichick; which presents challenges in itself. The Patriots have struggled in the past when encountering new and unconventional offensive schemes for the first time. Back in 2008, the Miami Dolphins exploited the new “wildcat” offense to shock New England 38-13 in their first meeting. several weeks later, Belichick was able to adjust and respond to the latest offensive fad by routing Miami 48-28. Belichick will not have the luxury of prior experience against an option quarterback that has had success at the professional level.

Tebow’s pedestrian 83.9 quarterback rating is also deceptive; as his performance in the fourth quarter in overtime more than makes up for his early game struggles. Tebow’s possesses a fourth quarter passer rating of 107.9 as compared to a 65.1 rating through the first three quarters of his games this season.

The Patriots’ defensive secondary has been porous for most of the season and has contributed to opposing quarterbacks having season-best performances. Chad Henne, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jason Campbell, Ben Roethlisberger, Vince Young and Dan Orlovsky comprise a lengthy list of quarterbacks who all passed for more yards against the Patriots than any other opponent this year.

The defensively challenged Patriots secondary continues to struggle with injuries as well. Patrick Chung has missed the past five games due to a foot injury; while Devin McCourty and James Ihedigbo struggled through injuries in last Sunday’s narrow victory against the Washington Redskins.

The recent string of success in Denver cannot be solely attributed to the offense, as the defense has become stout and keps games close enough for the late game comebacks to happen. Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil have combined to register 20 sacks for the Broncos this year; while also holding opponents to an average of 16.7 points in their last seven victories. The front seven of the Denver defense will look to apply pressure on Brady in hopes of forcing turnovers.

How the Patriots’ defense can control and corral the league’s latest phenomenon will go a long way in determining the outcome of Sunday’s contest. Getting out to an early lead is no guarantee that the Patriots will win easily; as Tebow continues to demonstrate with his late game heroics. The general belief in Denver is that the team is now a team of destiny. Whether destiny is realized will all be resolved in the thin air of the mile high city.

Scott Duhaime is a fan and follower of the New England Patriots for over 30 years, witnessing the team’s ascent from league irrelevance to among the league’s elite franchises. His professional career includes a solid foundation of analytics that contributes to a better appreciation of player and team contributions.

Sources:

Yahoo! Sports New England Patriots roster, boxscores, and player statistics

Yahoo! Sports Denver Broncos roster, boxscores, and player statistics

Yahoo! Sports New England Patriots team report

Yahoo! Sports Denver Broncos team report

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AP PHOTO
The Patriots will need to keep a close eye on Eagles running back LeSean McCoy when the teams meet today in Philadelphia.

FOXBORO (AP) — The New England Patriots aren’t certain whether Michael Vick or Vince Young will be playing quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

One thing is for sure, though: LeSean McCoy will be in the backfield, and that’s enough to get the attention of the defense.

“This is by far the most elusive back that we’ve been against so far this season,” Patriots defensive end Andre Carter said. “Looking at film, it looks like he’ll lose yards to gain yards, then those are the tackles on a running back that you hate.

“Just as a defense, we always mention just kind of swarming and gang tackling, and that’s what it’s going to take for four quarters.”

Vick, whose sensational season in 2010 led to the Eagles (4-6) signing him to a lucrative long-term contract, has two broken ribs and missed last week’s win against the New York Giants. He has yet to practice any drills this week and is questionable on the Eagles’ injury report.

Young could make his second start of the season after stepping in last week and leading the Eagles to a 17-10 victory, perhaps a pivotal win that kept their playoff dreams alive.

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid said Young has taken all the reps with the first-team offense in Vick’s absence this week.

Young might not be as versatile as Vick, but both are effective as runners.

Combine that with McCoy, who has scored a rushing or receiving touchdown in nine of the Eagles’ 10 games this season, and the

New England defense is in for a test.

“Speed, that’s all I can really tell you,” Patriots defensive tackle Kyle Love said. “Speed kills. In this league, it definitely kills.”

Despite the Patriots (7-3) having the worst pass defense in the league, allowing just shy of 300 yards a game, they expect a heavy dose of McCoy on Sunday.

And with good reason.

A dual threat to run or catch the ball out of the backfield since his rookie season in 2009, McCoy is the lone running back in the league this season to have already eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing while guiding the league’s top-ranked rushing attack at 168.0 yards per game.

“He scores a lot of touchdowns, he’s a great player,” New England linebacker and defensive captain Jerod Mayo said. “He’s never down until multiple people tackle him. He’s a threat out of the backfield to catch the ball as well, so he’s a great threat to the whole defense.”

Patriots coach Bill Belichick thinks McCoy might even be better than former Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook.

“This guy is pretty good,” Belichick said. “I’d say he’s quicker than Westbrook. Westbrook might be a little stronger, I don’t know. This guy is a handful now.

“You don’t see really anybody tackle him one-on-one. You need a group of guys around him. He gets hemmed in and then he gets out of it. He’s got some running strength, too. He gets through the line. Guys get a shot at him and he’s able to run through them.”

While McCoy is on pace for a career high in yards, just 61 shy of his career best set last season with 1,080, and already has nearly as many rushing touchdowns (10) as his first two years combined (11), his receiving has tapered off a bit.

With 34 receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns this season, he is well off his league-best reception total for a running back last season when he had 78 catches.

That drop-off means nothing to the Patriots.

“Anytime you get a guy like that, everybody has to be at the point of attack,” Love said. “And if you’re not at the point of attack, you’re burned.”

Carter knows that all too well after spending five seasons with the Washington Redskins, who play the Eagles twice a season. He is well aware of what players such as Westbrook and McCoy bring to an offense.

“We always just talk about gap control, playing physical, being consistent, making sure we have a strong seven-man front and just kind of continue on there,” he said. “If somebody misses, somebody else will come in and rally. I think, so far, we’ve been consistent.

“Don’t get me wrong; there’s been a few plays where we know we have to tackle better. It happens every game, you just got to go get ‘em.”

The defense also will try to force turnovers against McCoy. However, he has no fumbles in 188 attempts this season and only three in 550 career carries.

“Anytime you got a guy that’s loose with the ball, you’ve got to have an emphasis on getting to him and getting the ball out of him,” Love said. “We’ll try to do that on him or anybody else who has the ball on them. Anytime you see that, you have to get the ball.”

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

It’s been more than eight years since Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie uttered the infamous phrase gold standard.

While the team’s critics haven’t missed an opportunity to toss Lurie’s regretful assessment of his franchise back in his face, several meetings with the New England Patriots over that span have made it clear which team was the gold standard in the NFL.

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Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

“They are still the New England Patriots.”

These are the seven words that were repeated again and again in the Jets’ locker room this week, from players suddenly determined to say the right thing — even if what they’re saying is wrong.

The rare two-game losing streak? “They are still the New England Patriots.” The historically bad pass defense? “They are still the New England Patriots.”

The fact that, spotted a two-game lead on their nasty division rivals this season, they limp into MetLife Stadium in a three-way tie in the AFC East and look like a dynasty that has finally reached its end?

“They are still the New England Patriots.”

It’s good that the Jets keep saying this, and it’s even better if they actually believe it. This is not the right opponent to take lightly, no matter how they’ve looked at times this season.

Still: They are not the New England Patriots — at least not the dominant, fear-inspiring team that dominated most of the past decade. They still have Tom Brady at quarterback. They still have Bill Belichick on the sidelines.

But take them both away, and the Jets might as well be playing the Washington Redskins this week.

The running game, ranked 17th in the league, scares no one. The defense can’t stop anyone when it matters. Eli Manning was hailed for leading the Giants to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives last week, and rightly so.

But look at the players he torched. Kyle Arrington, an undrafted cornerback who has already played for three teams in three season, picked up a critical pass interference penalty and was beaten for a touchdown. Sergio Brown, an undrafted safety who spent last season on the team’s practice squad, picked up the pass interference penalty that put the Giants at the 1-yard line on the final drive.

The Patriots are not merely bad at stopping the pass. They are on a pace to set records in futility. They are giving up 314 passing yards a game, a full 54 more than the 31st-ranked Colts, who are 0-9.

Even the offense isn’t its usual model of perfection. Brady had four interceptions all of last season — a ridiculously low total. He has 10 already this year. He and Wes Welker are still among the most feared quarterback-receiver combos in the league, but even Rick Perry would be excused if he couldn’t name the Patriots’ third receiver.

Of course, try telling all this to the Jets. “They can get this turned around at any time,” tight end Dustin Keller said. “It’s still Bill Belichick. It’s still Tom Brady. They’re still good. I don’t care what happened the last couple games.”

The point is not to dismiss the Patriots. The AFC lacks a single dominant team. They could still beat the Jets on Sunday, win the division and make a run all the way to the Super Bowl.

But they are very beatable. This is more than just a chance for the Jets to finally take control of their division. This could be a changing of the guard, another sign that poor drafts and personnel decisions have chipped away at what once made the Patriots the best in football.

Albert Haynesworth? Chad Ochocinco? The first offseason reclamation project was cut this week after an embarrassing performance against the Giants. The second was equally ineffective but is still on the roster — and, even harder to understand, still a frequent target for Brady.

The Jets, meanwhile, again looked like the team they were hyped to be — the dominant defense, the ball-control offense — in their victory at Buffalo. Small sample sizes in the NFL are dangerous, but the Jets know the enormous opportunity they have this week.

“A lot of people wrote us off after we lost three in a row, but now we’re in a position to knock them off and win our division,” running back Shonn Greene said. “It’s a much different position that we’ve been in the last few years.”

But when pressed on the real reason the Jets’ position is different — the sudden decline of the opponent — Greene went back to the company line: “They are still the New England Patriots.”

Yeah, so we’ve heard. But Sunday is an opportunity for the Jets to show the Patriots are that in name only.

Steve Politi: spoliti@starledger.com; Twitter: @StevePoliti

More from Steve Politi

• Politi: With Joe Paterno fired from Penn State, Rutgers’ Greg Schiano won’t be his replacement

• Politi: Joe Paterno can’t be allowed to coach Saturday, Penn State coach can’t proceed as usual

• Politi: Joe Paterno, Penn State officials should have done more to help victims

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

MIAMI (Reuters) – The New England Patriots and the New York Jets clash on Sunday with top spot in the National Football League‘s (NFL) AFC East division at stake while the Big Apple’s other contenders, the Giants, face the San Francisco 49ers in a match-up of divisional leaders.

After contrasting starts to the season – the Patriots racing out of the traps and the Jets making a false start – the two teams both enter Sunday’s game with 5-3 records.

The Buffalo Bills, the early pacesetters, have fallen back to 5-3, meaning there is intense competition for the playoffs in what has been, in recent years, one of the toughest of divisions.

The form team are the Jets – they are 3-0 since losing to the Patriots in week five while the Patriots have lost their last two games, including a dramatic late loss to the New York Giants last week.

The rivalry pits some of the league’s big characters against each other – Tom Brady, the Patriots’ quarterback always relishes taking center stage in the Boston-New York City sporting rivalry, while Darelle Revis, the Jets cornerback, loves nothing more than picking off the Patriots.

On the sidelines are two of the league’s most fascinating coaches – the stern, austere-appearing Bill Belichick of the Patriots and the larger and louder than life Jets boss Rex Ryan.

“You want to win your division, that was our goal. The two years I’ve been here, obviously New England has won the division both times. They’ve beat us already. So we know what this game represents, we’re not afraid to talk about it,” said Ryan.

“We’re approaching it like we have to have this game. We want to win our division. We think it goes through New England. There’s that old saying: ‘To be the champ, you have to beat the champ’, and they’re sitting right in front of us,” he added.

Belichick, typically, was more circumspect.

“The Jets are certainly playing well – have a three-game win streak, scoring points, not giving up many. They’re doing a good job,” said Belichick.

“I don’t think there are a whole lot of new things, just they’re doing a good job. It’ll be a big challenge down there for us this week. I’m sure it will be a very lively crowd, emotional atmosphere.”

SMART FOOTBALL

The Giants are buzzing from their victory over the Patriots, which recalled the Super Bowl triumph at the end of the 2007 season, but now the NFC East leaders face the NFC West’s top dogs in San Francisco.

Eli Manning, who in the absence of his injured brother Peyton, is enjoying some positive time in the spotlight, knows a tough task awaits at Candlestick Park.

“You have to play smart football. They are really talented on defense. Their front seven is really good and you don’t see a whole lot of teams running against them. They get good pressure on the quarterback, just bringing four guys a lot of times. They don’t turn the ball over on offense and they get turnovers on defense,” said Manning.

“They have a great turnover margin so I think it is a matter of playing football. Don’t give them easy breaks and make it tough on their offense. They don’t give up many big plays so it is a matter of being consistent and getting in good third down situations and trying to convert there,” he added.

Monday night’s game sees the rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings return to normality without the additional presence of Brett Favre in the Vikings quarterback role.

The Packers (8-0) are the only unbeaten team in the league while Minnesota are struggling this year on 2-6.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)

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(Sports Network) – When the New York Giants and New England Patriots take the
field Sunday at Gillette Stadium in one of the marquee matchups of this week’s
NFL schedule, the game will serve as an opportunity for one quarterback to back
up a headline-grabbing statement and one team to gain retribution for a
memorable loss it’s waited four years to avenge.

Though this Week 9 showdown certainly carries plenty of significance for the
two participants, both of whom currently sit at the top of their respective
divisions, the stakes still won’t nearly be as high as the last time the Giants
and Patriots squared off in a meaningful contest. That took place at Arizona’s
University of Phoenix Stadium in February of 2008, when New York spoiled New
England’s attempt at an unprecedented 19-0 season by rallying for a thrilling
17-14 victory in Super Bowl XLII.

The Patriots’ chance at revenge still isn’t the primary storyline of this key
clash, however. Instead, most viewers will be focused on the two quarterbacks
that will be leading their offenses on Sunday, thanks to some comments made by
Giants signal-caller Eli Manning during the preseason that drew a flurry of
attention and debate.

Manning created a small controversy by stating in a radio interview over the
summer he considered himself in the same class as New England counterpart Tom
Brady, a player who’s garnered six Pro Bowl citations, three Super Bowl titles
and two NFL Most Valuable Player Awards during his glorious career.

Though New York’s triggerman doesn’t possess that amount of accolades, he was
able to get the better of Brady in their most recent head-to-head encounter.
Manning helped the Giants pull off the upset in Super Bowl XLII by engineering
a long touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, highlighted by an
unforgettable third-down play in which he eluded a heavy rush and connected
with David Tyree for an improbable 32-yard completion, and was named the game’s
MVP.

Manning has actually compared favorably with Brady through the first eight
weeks of this season. The former No. 1 overall draft pick has produced a
career-best 102.1 passer rating during New York’s 5-2 start, which trails only
the Patriots’ star and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers for tops in the league in that
category.

While that individual battle has brought some additional intrigue to this
already compelling tilt, Manning said his goal this week won’t be to prove he
belongs in the league’s upper echelon of quarterbacks.

“I think when you go against New England, that’s all I’m thinking about,” he
stated this week. “They’re always a talented team, always a team that finds
ways to win games, whether it’s through their offense or defense. We understand
that we have to play solid football.

“I’m focused on this game, this team and what we have to do this week.”

Likewise, the Patriots’ goal this week won’t be getting payback for that
stinging Super Bowl defeat. New England is presently engaged in a three-team
fight for AFC East supremacy, with the defending division champions tied with
surprising Buffalo for the top spot, and returns home off its worst outing of
the season after being stymied by Pittsburgh in a 25-17 loss last Sunday.

“That’s a distant memory,” said Brady of the Patriots’ last skirmish with the
Giants. There’s not much you can take from that. This is an entirely different
team that we have and that they have. There are so many players on our team
that were obviously not a part of that game, or any game against the Giants.”

New England’s powerful offense was held to 213 total yards by the Steelers,
less than half of its season average coming into the game.

Coming back to Gillette Stadium could help the Pats get back on track. New
England owns a 20-game regular-season winning streak at its home venue, and
hasn’t lost there in its last 31 non-playoff tests in which Brady has started.

The Giants have opened up a two-game advantage in the NFC East by winning their
last two games, including this past week’s 20-17 triumph over stumbling Miami
in which Manning threw for 349 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

SERIES HISTORY

The Patriots hold a 5-3 edge in their overall regular-season series with New
York and have bested the Giants four straight times in games not involving the
postseason. The teams also faced one another in the 2007 regular-season finale,
with New England capping a 16-0 campaign with a hard-earned 38-35 victory at
Giants Stadium. New York has left with defeats in its last two trips to
Foxborough, which occurred in 1999 and 2003, and hasn’t topped the Pats in the
regular season since a 13-10 road decision on Dec. 30, 1990.

New York’s comeback win in Super Bowl XLII stands as the only postseason
meeting between the clubs.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who served 12 years as a Giants assistant
from 1979-90, is 2-3 against his former employer for his career and 2-1 during
his tenure in New England. His first two losses to New York came while the head
coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95.

The Giants’ Tom Coughlin has a 2-4 record versus New England as a head coach,
including a 1-3 mark during his time in charge of Jacksonville from 1995-2002
that contains a win over the Pats in a 1998 AFC First-Round Playoff and a loss
in the 1996 AFC Championship. Coughlin is 3-1 lifetime in head-to-head bouts
with Belichick, with the first two victories coming for his Jaguars against the
Browns in 1995.

Belichick and Coughlin also worked together for three years (1988-90) on Bill
Parcells’ staff with the Giants, with the former then the defensive coordinator
and the latter the team’s wide receivers coach.

WHEN THE GIANTS HAVE THE BALL

Manning (2127 passing yards, 13 TD, 5 INT) is in the midst of the best season
of his eight-year career, with the formerly-erratic quarterback having
completed a personal-high 64.7 percent of his throws and ranking second only to
Rodgers in yards per attempt (8.8), and he’s also drastically cut down his
turnovers one year after leading the league with 25 interceptions. The Giants
have needed him to step up and shine as well, since a running game that was
once an integral part of the team’s offense has been close to non-existent this
season. New York has generated the third-fewest rushing yards (85.6 ypg) in the
NFL and was held to just 58 yards on the ground by the Dolphins last week, and
top back Ahmad Bradshaw (440 rushing yards, 24 receptions, 6 total TD) is
dealing with a possible stress fracture in his foot that could sideline him on
Sunday. The Giants do have a two-time 1,000-yard rusher in reserve in Brandon
Jacobs (126 rushing yards, 3 total TD), but the unhappy veteran is averaging a
meager 3.0 yards per carry on the year. Manning’s No. 1 target, wide receiver
Hakeem Nicks (38 receptions, 575 yards, 3 TD), has also been bothered by a
hamstring injury, though he’s tentatively believed to play this week. If he’s
unable to go, New York does have some outside depth in the young combo of
Victor Cruz (28 receptions, 497 yards, 4 TD) and Mario Manningham (24
receptions, 1 TD), who combined for 13 catches, 162 yards and two touchdowns
against Miami, and oversized tight end Jake Ballard (19 receptions, 2 TD) has
also made contributions to the club’s fourth-ranked aerial attack (287.6 ypg).

The Giants figure to take to the air early and often come Sunday, considering
the game has the makings of being high-scoring and the Patriots have been
dreadful in preventing enemy passers from piling up yards at will. A secondary
littered with marginal talents other than cornerback Devin McCourty (49
tackles) and safety Patrick Chung (50 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) has permitted a
league-worst 323.1 passing yards per game, and all but one quarterback the team
has faced this year has eclipsed the 300-yard mark. Pittsburgh’s Ben
Roethlisberger torched the group for 365 yards and two scores a week ago. New
England did register a season-high five sacks in the loss, including two by
veteran end Andre Carter (28 tackles, 4.5 sacks), and both he and situational
rusher Mark Anderson (10 tackles, 4.5 sacks) will be counted on to bring the
heat upon Manning. The Patriots are in the top 10 in run defense (101.0 ypg),
though that’s partly because they’ve been thrown on so much, but do possess
three proven stoppers up front in three-time Pro Bowl tackle Vince Wilfork (19
tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 INT) and linebackers Brandon Spikes (39 tackles) and
Jerod Mayo (27 tackles), who returned last week from a two-game absence caused
by a knee sprain.

WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL

Despite being held in check by Pittsburgh’s formidable defense last week, the
Patriots still boast one of the NFL’s most potent and dangerous offenses that
tops the league in first downs (25.7 avg.), stands second in passing yards
(324.7 ypg), third in total yards (437.1 ypg) and fourth in third-down
conversions (50.6 pct.). The key to it all is obviously Brady (2361 passing
yards, 18 TD, 8 INT), who’s enjoying another stellar season even though he’s
had twice as many interceptions as he did during his MVP campaign of 2010. The
standout quarterback has four quality options to throw to, led by prolific slot
receiver Wes Welker (57 receptions, 824 yards, 6 TD), the league’s leader in
both catches and receiving yards per game. Former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch
(30 receptions, 3 TD) provides a reliable outside presence to the mix, while
second-year tight ends Rob Gronkowski (36 receptions, 495 yards, 5 TD) and
Aaron Hernandez (29 receptions, 4 TD) are both lethal inside the red zone and
often Brady’s preferred choices in that area. New England also has an
interesting collection of running backs, with leading rusher BenJarvus Green-
Ellis (400 rushing yards, 5 TD) a physical and sure-handed performer between
the tackles and 13-year vet Kevin Faulk now back from an ACL tear to reprise
his longtime role as the team’s third-down specialist.

Brady and his cast of receivers will be taking on a New York defense that’s
played quite well against the pass in recent weeks, albeit the Pats do
represent a step up in class. The Giants have yielded just four touchdowns
through the air and bagged eight interceptions over their last five games, with
cornerbacks Corey Webster (26 tackles, 3 INT, 9 PD) and Aaron Ross (24 tackles,
3 INT, 8 PD) each recording three picks during that stretch, and allowed a
scant 101 net passing yards to Miami’s anemic offense last Sunday. The duo is
backed by an excellent pass rush that’s amassed a league-best 26 sacks thus far
and is now at full strength now that valued end Justin Tuck (7 tackles, 2
sacks) is over neck and groin injuries that have limited him to three games.
The 2010 All-Pro honoree teams with two-time Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora (12
tackles, 6 sacks) and second-year phenom Jason Pierre-Paul (35 tackles, 8.5
sacks) to give New York an outstanding collection of pressure-creators.
Umenyiora has racked up six sacks in just four games since returning from
early-season knee surgery. The Giants haven’t fared well in containing the run,
however, having allowed at least 145 yards on the ground in five straight
outings and owning an unwanted 28th overall ranking in rush defense (130.1
ypg).

KEYS TO THE GAME

Control the clock. The Steelers may have revealed the blueprint for keeping New
England’s high-powered offense at bay last week, as Pittsburgh held the ball
for over 39 minutes by mixing Roethlisberger’s efficient passing with an
effective running game. Dallas utilized a similar approach two weeks prior in
its near-upset of the Patriots, with the Cowboys also owning a sizeable edge in
time of possession. New England may actually benefit from employing that
philosophy as well when factoring in New York’s struggles in stopping the run
and its own deficiencies on the defensive side.

Pressuring the quarterbacks. Brady has been sacked 10 times over New England’s
past three games and the offense experienced a noticeable drop-off against both
the Cowboys and Steelers because both teams were able to continually harass the
reigning league MVP. The Giants certainly have the pass rushers in place to
make an impact as well. It’s also important for the Patriots to create pressure
on Manning, as New York isn’t much of a threat running the ball and the durable
field general is capable of shredding New England’s shaky secondary if he isn’t
under duress.

The fourth quarter. This could very well be a game that’s decided by which team
has the ball last. Manning has been marvelous in the final period this season,
having thrown for six touchdowns and earning an NFL-leading 119.3 passer
rating, while Brady has orchestrated 24 fourth-quarter comebacks over his
decorated career and is considered one of the all-time greats with the game on
the line.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

This Super Bowl rematch may turn out more like the 2007 regular-season meeting
between these teams, an all-out shootout in which Brady and Manning combined
for over 600 yards and six touchdowns, as opposed to the defensively-oriented
nail-biter that took place in Arizona. Both quarterbacks will have their
moments, as will a Giants defense that has the potential to disrupt New
England’s aerial assault with its pressure. The offenses should have their say
in the end, however. If that’s indeed the case, the Patriots’ better balance on
that side of the ball and sustained success at home could be the determining
factors in a hard-fought contest that won’t have a shortage of thrills.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Patriots 35, Giants 31

The Sports Network

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

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(Sports Network) – Heinz Field has usually been a very frightening place for
teams facing the Pittsburgh Steelers over the years, though Tom Brady and the
New England Patriots haven’t seemed to be too intimidated.

The Patriots aim to continue their recent success in the Steel City when two of
the AFC’s premier teams square off Sunday in the headline matchup of the Week 8
schedule.

Pittsburgh won a pair of playoff games at home to represent the AFC in last
season’s Super Bowl, but the Patriots were the conference’s No. 1 overall seed
after amassing an NFL-best 14-2 record prior to the tournament. One of those
victories took place at Heinz Field during Week 10 of the 2010 campaign, a
39-26 triumph fueled by a 350-yard, four-touchdown performance out of Brady.

The reigning league MVP has had several other outstanding moments against the
Steelers over his glorious career. In his last four encounters with Pittsburgh,
which includes an appearance in the 2004 AFC Championship Game held at Heinz
Field, Brady has thrown for nine touchdowns and been intercepted just once in
leading New England to victories on each of those occasions.

Pittsburgh did rout the Patriots by a 33-10 count in New England in 2008, but
Brady did not play that day because of a torn ACL the superstar signal-caller
suffered in that year’s opener.

Counting the playoffs, the Patriots have left with a win in five of their last
six stops in Pittsburgh and are 6-1 all-time against the Steelers when Brady’s
been under center.

“They’ve played us pretty good a few times, too,” said Brady. “We’ve had our
moments and they’ve had their moments. I think we realize the kind of
challenge that it is, and we put a lot of time into the preparation and we put
a lot of effort into understanding what we’re trying to accomplish from a game-
plan standpoint and then we’ve executed well.”

This latest showdown between current division leaders on Halloween Eve will be
a battle of strength versus strength. New England boasts the NFL’s most
prolific aerial attack as well as the top-ranked overall offense, while
Pittsburgh is permitting just 171.9 passing yards per game (2nd overall) and
stands third in the league in both total defense and scoring defense.

The Patriots had a little additional time to prepare for the Steelers’
formidable stop unit, with the AFC East front-runners enjoying a Week 7 bye
that followed their third consecutive triumph, a hard-fought 20-16 decision
over Dallas on Oct. 16 in which Brady engineered a long go-ahead drive capped
by an eight-yard touchdown strike to tight end Aaron Hernandez with only 22
seconds left to play.

That result gave Brady and Pats head coach Bill Belichick their 116th career
victory together, which tied Miami’s combo of Don Shula and Dan Marino for the
most in NFL history by a coach/quarterback tandem.

Pittsburgh is also riding a three-game win streak and vaulted past rival
Baltimore and into first place in the AFC North after last Sunday’s 32-20
ousting of slumping Arizona.

Ben Roethlisberger led the way against the Cardinals by amassing 361 passing
yards and throwing for three scores, and the standout quarterback has compiled
a stellar 9-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio during the team’s present
surge.

Including its two wins in the 2010 AFC Playoffs, Pittsburgh has gone 8-1 at
Heinz Field since last November’s setback to New England and has outscored its
competition by a 79-30 margin in coming out on top in each of its three
previous matchups at home this season.

SERIES HISTORY

The Steelers have a 13-8 advantage in their all-time regular-season series
with the Patriots, but New England has emerged victorious in three of the last
four bouts between the clubs following last November’s above-noted 13-point
win at Heinz Field. The Patriots also bested Pittsburgh on the road by a 23-20
count in 2005 and posted a 34-13 verdict in a 2007 clash with the Steelers held
in Foxborough. Pittsburgh exacted revenge with the aforementioned 33-10 triumph
in Massachusetts the following year.

The teams have also met in the postseason four times since 1996, with the
Patriots claiming a 1996 AFC Divisional Playoff (28-3), the Steelers returning
the favor with a win in the 1997 AFC Divisional Round (7-6), and New England
prevailing in the 2001 (24-17) and 2004 (41-27) AFC Championships. The 1997,
2001, and 2004 meetings were all played in Pittsburgh.

Belichick has a 9-10 record against the Steelers, but is 6-2 versus the Black
and Gold since taking over in New England in 2000. Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin is
1-2 against both Belichick and the Patriots as a head coach.

WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL

New England was incredibly successful in spreading the Steelers out defensively
and neutralizing Pittsburgh’s traditionally-potent pass rush in last year’s
tilt, as Brady (2163 passing yards, 16 TD, 8 INT) wasn’t sacked once in
completing a crisp 30-of-43 throws for 350 yards. As usual, the two-time MVP’s
favorite target was slot man extraordinaire Wes Welker (51 receptions, 785
yards, 6 TD), with terrific young tight end Rob Gronkowski (29 receptions, 401
yards, 5 TD) hauling in all three of Brady’s scoring deliveries in that
contest. The two comprise half of an outstanding foursome of targets for the
NFL’s No. 1 pass offense (350.3 ypg), as both Hernandez (27 receptions, 289
yards, 3 TD) and veteran wideout Deion Branch (26 receptions, 2 TD) can create
headaches for defenses as well. The biggest problems this year have been
caused by Welker, however, as the sure-handed Pro Bowler easily tops the league
in catches and receiving yards per game and has amassed 124 yards or more in
four of New England’s six outings. The Patriots use the running game primarily
to simply keep teams honest, but top back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (391 rushing
yards, 5 TD) is a powerful and effective player who totaled 87 yards on 18
carries in last November’s win over Pittsburgh.

Brady’s greatest challenge of the season could come this weekend, as the
Steelers have held enemy quarterbacks to a league-low 5.8 yards per pass
attempt and possess a couple of proven difference-makers in the secondary.
Strong safety Troy Polamalu (43 tackles, 1 sack) is the obvious headliner,
having earned the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award with a sensational
2010 season, while Ike Taylor (14 tackles) is a true lock-down corner who
usually handles the opposition’s No. 1 receiver and doesn’t get tested all that
much. The back end is complemented nicely by Pittsburgh’s ability to generate
consistent pressure on the passer, a trademark under longtime coordinator Dick
LeBeau, and All-Pro outside linebacker James Harrison’s absence for the last
three weeks due to a fractured eye socket hasn’t slowed down the rush. The
Steelers have produced 10 sacks during their three-game win streak, Harrison
counterpart LaMarr Woodley (34 tackles, 7 sacks, 1 INT) has been on a tear with
his running mate sidelined, having notched a whopping 5 1/2 sacks over that
stretch, and will need to be a factor once again with Harrison also out this
week. Pittsburgh’s historically strong run defense has fallen off a bit this
season, with the club allowing an average of 4.5 yards a carry, but five-time
Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton’s expected return from a shoulder injury
that’s kept him out three straight game could help shore things up.

WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL

With a balanced offense directed by a top-tier quarterback in Roethlisberger
(1937 passing yards, 12 TD, 6 INT), the Steelers may just have the firepower to
keep up with the explosive Patriots if this game becomes a shootout. The two-
time Super Bowl champion certainly did his part in last year’s test between the
teams, throwing for 387 yards and three scores in a losing cause. Two of those
touchdowns landed in the hands of wide receiver Mike Wallace (36 receptions,
730 receiving yards, 5 TD), perhaps the most dangerous deep threat in the game
today. The speedy playmaker is averaging better than 20 yards per catch for a
second straight year and has a reception of 40 or more yards in six straight
weeks, the longest streak in the NFL since St. Louis’ Isaac Bruce did so in
2000, and has a touchdown grab in three consecutive outings as well. He’s the
top option of a deep corps of pass-catchers that may not have crafty veteran
Hines Ward (26 receptions, 2 TD) this week due to a sprained ankle, though
youngsters Antonio Brown (25 receptions) and Emmanuel Sanders (13 receptions, 2
TD) are both capable fill-ins who combined for 12 receptions for 148 yards and
a score against the Cardinals last Sunday and trusty tight end Heath Miller (23
receptions, 2 TD) remains at Roethlisberger’s disposal as well. In the
backfield, leading rusher Rashard Mendenhall (351 rushing yards, 3 TD) is
coming off a 1,273-yard, 13-touchdown season in 2010, but has been held under
three yards per carry in three of his last four games while also missing time
with a hamstring injury.

It’s a good thing for New England the offense is so skilled at putting up
points, because the defense has been an inviting target for quarterbacks on the
schedule all year long. The Patriots are giving up a startling 322.2 passing
yards per game and have held only one team under the 300-yard mark thus far,
while their 423.7 total yards allowed per week is dead last in the league as
well. One bright spot in an otherwise disappointing secondary has been
cornerback Kyle Arrington (34 tackles, 6 PD), whose four interceptions are tied
for the second most among individuals, while 2010 first-round draft choice
Devin McCourty (38 tackles) made the Pro Bowl as a rookie last year before
going into a sophomore slump. New England has also struggled in mounting a
steady pass rush, and age seems to be getting the better of an experienced
front line in which starting ends Andre Carter (23 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and
Shaun Ellis are in their 11th and 12th seasons, respectively. The Patriots have
been generally solid in stopping the run even with well-regarded linebacker
Jerod Mayo (25 tackles) having missed two games with a knee sprain, though
teams have been more inclined to attack them through the air. Mayo was back
practicing during the bye week and is a possibility to suit up on Sunday.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Pressure Brady. The Steelers weren’t able to do so well enough in last year’s
meeting and paid the price. Though Taylor is an excellent corner capable of
shutting down whomever he’s assigned to, Pittsburgh still doesn’t have the
secondary depth to contain all of New England’s receivers, therefore it’ll be
up to Woodley and his mates to harass the MVP quarterback and force him into
quick decisions.

A big game out of Big Ben. As good as Pittsburgh’s defense is, it’s still a
stretch to think it’ll be able to keep the high-powered Patriots under 20
points, something no team has done in 15 straight games. That means
Roethlisberger will have to be sharp with his reads and take advantage of the
soft spots to be found in New England’s shaky secondary.

The turnover battle. This has been the Steelers’ sore spot all season long, as
they’re an NFL-worst minus-nine in takeaway-to-giveaway ratio and have forced a
mere three turnovers, also last in the league. Brady has been far from flawless
this year, having been intercepted four times in a Week 3 loss at Buffalo and
twice more in the Pats’ narrow win at Dallas two Sundays ago, but New England
is an awfully tough out when its quarterback is on point.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Patriots showed the blueprint for successfully moving the ball on the
Steelers when these teams faced off last season, and Belichick’s track record
in games in which he’s had extra time to game plan is very good. While
Pittsburgh will likely encounter difficulty slowing down the New England
offense for a second straight year, the Patriots will find it hard to prevent
Roethlisberger and Wallace from having their say in the outcome as well. This
could be a situation in which the team that has the ball last wins, but unless
the Steelers can solve their inability to create turnovers, matching their
prolific opponent score-for-score may be too tough an assignment.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Patriots 28, Steelers 24

The Sports Network

Leave any suggestions in the comment box.

Steelers respectful but not in awe of Patriots

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

By WILL GRAVES

AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) Brett Keisel’s short-term memory is a little hazy. Actually, his long-term memory is clouded, too, at least when it comes to the New England Patriots.

The Pittsburgh defensive end isn’t quite sure how many times Tom Brady has beaten the defending AFC champions.

Is it four? Five? All Keisel knows is, whatever the number is – six, actually – it’s too many. He also knows he’s not dwelling on it heading into their showdown Sunday at Heinz Field.

“I really haven’t thought about what they’ve done in the past, honestly,” Keisel said.

Good idea.

The Steelers have won 129 games (including a pair of Super Bowls) since Brady took over as the Patriots’ starting quarterback in 2001. Only one of those victories came against the two-time MVP.

Does that mean New England is in the Steelers’ heads? Keisel has the ultimate respect for the Patriots, but he’s not ready to go there.

“If they feel good about themselves for beating us back in whenever, and it’s an advantage for them, so be it,” Keisel said.

The Patriots haven’t just beaten the Steelers through the years, however, they’ve dominated.

New England’s average margin of victory against Pittsburgh since 2001 is 12.3 points with only one game decided by fewer than seven points.

Impressive, to be sure.

Also, the Steelers point out, irrelevant.

“The amazing thing is none of that counts,” safety Ryan Clark said. “They clearly have no reason to be afraid of us, but neither do we.”

Maybe, though the Steelers (5-2) are well aware they’ve played second fiddle to the Patriots (5-1) over the last decade in which the two organizations combined to win half the Super Bowls and seven AFC titles.

“That’s how it always is,” linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. “They’ve got a great organization, great coaches, great players. Last time I checked, we were pretty good, too.”

Just not good enough to beat Brady.

The Steelers insist there’s no secret formula to beating Brady. Put pressure on him, disrupt his timing and try to put him on the ground.

“If I knew the reason why they’ve beaten us more than we’ve beaten them, we wouldn’t have that problem anymore,” nose tackle Casey Hampton said. “So, we’ve just got to go out there and do what we do.”

And just do it better than they’ve done it in the past even if Brady seems immune to whatever schemes the Steelers throw at him. If they blitz, he finds the hot receiver. If they drop back and give him time, he picks them apart.

Brady’s numbers against the Steelers seem as if they’ve come out of a video game. He has racked up 2,008 yards passing with 14 touchdowns against three interceptions against Pittsburgh, remarkable statistics against any team, mind-blowing considering the Steelers annually rank among the league’s top defenses.

This year is no different. The Steelers are third in the league in average yards against and first against the pass.

Yet Brady is in a different league than the likes of Curtis Painter, Blaine Gabbert and Tarvaris Jackson, and the Steelers know it.

New England has beaten the Steelers in a variety of ways. Early in Brady’s career the Patriots relied on the defense and running game. Now coach Bill Belichick lets his quarterback throw it all over the field.

Whatever button the Patriots push works. That’s typically not the way it goes when teams face the Steelers.

“You see them one week and they do this, then the next week they do something completely different,” Clark said. “One week it’s five receivers and the next it’s two tight ends.”

And sometimes it’s both in the same game.

The Patriots slogged to a 10-3 halftime lead a year ago only to pull away for a 39-26 victory, with Brady throwing for 350 yards and three scores.

“We scored points and our defense played pretty good but it was like something that was missing, like we were trying but we just couldn’t get there,” Steelers receiver Mike Wallace said. “You always going to keep that in the back of your head that you have to beat this team because of what happened.”

If the Steelers need advice on how to turn things around, they need only look within their own locker room.

Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery spent seven seasons in New York before signing with Pittsburgh during training camp.

The Patriots whipped the Jets regularly early in Cotchery’s career before New York evened things out over the last three seasons. The Jets went 4-3 against New England from 2008-10, including an upset victory last season in the divisional playoffs that served as an exclamation point in one of the AFC’s most heated rivalries.

How did the Jets go from patsies to Pats-beaters? Cotchery says it started with an attitude adjustment. Former Jets coach Eric Mangini – a longtime New England assistant – gave his players the belief they could hang with New England.

Rex Ryan, Mangini’s replacement, took it a step further by telling the team to ignore New England’s star power and just hit the delete button.

It’s a lesson Keisel is already following. Cotchery thinks it would be wise for the rest of his new teammates to follow suit.

“You just have to play ball, you don’t play history,” he said. “It’s not Steelers versus history. It’s Steelers vs. Patriots.”

Updated October 27, 2011

That’s all the news for today.

Brett Keisel’s short-term memory is a little hazy. Actually, his long-term memory is clouded, too, at least when it comes to the New England Patriots.
The Pittsburgh defensive end isn’t quite sure how many times Tom Brady has beaten the defending AFC champions.
Is it four? Five? All Keisel knows is, whatever the number is — six, actually — it’s too many. He also knows he’s not dwelling on it heading into their showdown Sunday at Heinz Field.
“I really haven’t thought about what they’ve done in the past, honestly,” Keisel said.
Good idea.
The Steelers have won 129 games (including a pair of Super Bowls) since Brady took over as the Patriots’ starting quarterback in 2001. Only one of those victories came against the two-time MVP.
Does that mean New England is in the Steelers’ heads? Keisel has the ultimate respect for the Patriots, but he’s not ready to go there.
“If they feel good about themselves for beating us back in whenever, and it’s an advantage for them, so be it,” Keisel said.
The Patriots haven’t just beaten the Steelers through the years, however, they’ve dominated.
New England’s average margin of victory against Pittsburgh since 2001 is 12.3 points with only one game decided by fewer than seven points.
Impressive, to be sure.
Also, the Steelers point out, irrelevant.
“The amazing thing is none of that counts,” safety Ryan Clark said. “They clearly have no reason to be afraid of us, but neither do we.”
Maybe, though the Steelers (5-2) are well aware they’ve played second fiddle to the Patriots (5-1) over the last decade in which the two organizations combined to win half the Super Bowls and seven AFC titles.
“That’s how it always is,” linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. “They’ve got a great organization, great coaches, great players. Last time I checked, we were pretty good, too.”
Just not good enough to beat Brady.
The Steelers insist there’s no secret formula to beating Brady. Put pressure on him, disrupt his timing and try to put him on the ground.
“If I knew the reason why they’ve beaten us more than we’ve beaten them, we wouldn’t have that problem anymore,” nose tackle Casey Hampton said. “So, we’ve just got to go out there and do what we do.”
And just do it better than they’ve done it in the past even if Brady seems immune to whatever schemes the Steelers throw at him. If they blitz, he finds the hot receiver. If they drop back and give him time, he picks them apart.
Brady’s numbers against the Steelers seem as if they’ve come out of a video game. He has racked up 2,008 yards passing with 14 touchdowns against three interceptions against Pittsburgh, remarkable statistics against any team, mind-blowing considering the Steelers annually rank among the league’s top defenses.
This year is no different. The Steelers are third in the league in average yards against and first against the pass.
Yet Brady is in a different league than the likes of Curtis Painter, Blaine Gabbert and Tarvaris Jackson, and the Steelers know it.
New England has beaten the Steelers in a variety of ways. Early in Brady’s career the Patriots relied on the defense and running game. Now coach Bill Belichick lets his quarterback throw it all over the field.
Whatever button the Patriots push works. That’s typically not the way it goes when teams face the Steelers.
“You see them one week and they do this, then the next week they do something completely different,” Clark said. “One week it’s five receivers and the next it’s two tight ends.”
And sometimes it’s both in the same game.
The Patriots slogged to a 10-3 halftime lead a year ago only to pull away for a 39-26 victory, with Brady throwing for 350 yards and three scores.
“We scored points and our defense played pretty good but it was like something that was missing, like we were trying but we just couldn’t get there,” Steelers receiver Mike Wallace said. “You always going to keep that in the back of your head that you have to beat this team because of what happened.”
If the Steelers need advice on how to turn things around, they need only look within their own locker room.
Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery spent seven seasons in New York before signing with Pittsburgh during training camp.
The Patriots whipped the Jets regularly early in Cotchery’s career before New York evened things out over the last three seasons. The Jets went 4-3 against New England from 2008-10, including an upset victory last season in the divisional playoffs that served as an exclamation point in one of the AFC’s most heated rivalries.
How did the Jets go from patsies to Pats-beaters? Cotchery says it started with an attitude adjustment. Former Jets coach Eric Mangini — a longtime New England assistant — gave his players the belief they could hang with New England.
Rex Ryan, Mangini’s replacement, took it a step further by telling the team to ignore New England’s star power and just hit the delete button.
It’s a lesson Keisel is already following. Cotchery thinks it would be wise for the rest of his new teammates to follow suit.
“You just have to play ball, you don’t play history,” he said. “It’s not Steelers versus history. It’s Steelers vs. Patriots.”

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