Put away the cyanide. Stow the noose. Save the razor-blades for shaving. And, above all else, remember that this was only the third game of the season. A very long season at that. In fact, the next time the Steelers could conceivably play the Patriots would be a minimum of fourteen games from now...which is a life-time in the NFL.
Furthermore, the following might assuage some of the general despair surrounding Pittsburgh fans: as of Sunday, the Steelers had played the Patriots three times in fifteen games. In other words, Pittsburgh's fledgeling offense, piloted by a second-year quarterback, has had to play the champions three times in less than a whole season.
To put it in perspective, Ben Roethlisberger has faced the best defense in the league three times in his nineteen starts...and has not faired too horribly. Sure, Ben could have played better in two of those games, but at the same time, Ben only has a handful of starts under his belt. There are a few quarterbacks in their prime who have not faired all too well against New England. I am looking your direction Peyton Manning. Your way, as well, Mr. McNabb.
For three quarters, and nearly a fourth, Ben indeed looked like a second year quarterback playing against arguably the best defense in the NFL. Simply, Ben played poorly. That said, when the game was on the line, Ben drove his team down for the tying score. This might be a hyperbole, but Ben's play-action pass for a touchdown to Hines Ward was probably the greatest pass play I have ever seen by a Steelers quarterback. Not only did Ben sell the run, he delivered a perfect pass.
Alas, as well as Ben played on his final drive, the Patriots still had Mr. Clutch on their side-line.
Before I even begin to talk about New England's final drive, forget about the "52 seconds" that the Steelers lost due to clock mismanagement by the officials. Tom Brady would have still had around 30 seconds with which to work...and he only needed about 30 seconds to get in field goal range, as it was. In other words, clock or no clock, the Steelers did not stop Brady: 12-for-12 in the fourth quarter says it all.
Simply, unless the Steelers find a way to rattle Brady and/or disrupt his timing, he will continue to pick them apart every single time he faces them. The only time that the Steelers have had any success against the Patriots in the past four years was last year, on Halloween, when Pittsburgh harassed Brady, resulting in interceptions, sacks, and incompletions.
Alas, this past Sunday, Brady was unfazed and, in turn, threw for 372 yards.
To clarify, I am not saying that Pittsburgh's current secondary is anywhere as deplorable as it was a few years ago...when it was a sieve. In fact, this is one of the best secondaries that the Steelers have fielded in years. Yet, at the same time, Brady is on a level that few other quarterbacks have reached. Hence, unless the Steelers get to Brady and force him to alter his throws, he will find a way to beat them...every single time.
And, in case anyone is confused, the "Let the opponent run all over the field and then cause a turnover in the red-zone" defense will work pretty well against mediocre teams (Tennessee, Houston)...but, not against New England. True, it worked for the first few quarters: Pittsburgh allowed a touchdown on New England's opening drive, and then kept them scoreless for their next eight possessions. But, in the end, the difference was Tom Brady.
