Turnovers, injuries costly in Patriots' loss

New England coach Bill Belichick said the Steelers deserved to win.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- Anyone who remembers Bill Belichick from his tenure as Cleveland Browns coach shouldn't be surprised that the Patriots mentor had little to say following his team's first loss in 13 months.
"They certainly deserved to win," said Belichick after the Steelers' 34-20 victory Sunday.
Turnovers and injuries combined to turn the Patriots into a ghost of the squad that had defeated 21 consecutive opponents, including the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
"We had problems everywhere -- I wouldn't [single out] one particular spot," Belichick said. "We didn't run very well, we didn't throw very well and we turned it over."
Injury to Law
Cornerback Ty Law's leg injury in the first quarter meant second-year corner Asante Samuel and rookie Randall Gay were responsible in guarding Steelers wideouts Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward.
"Ty is a big part of this defense," linebacker Mike Vrabel said. "We just didn''t make plays [but] I don't think it was a case that we threw the towel in."
Quarterback Tom Brady completed 25-of-43 passes for 271 yards, but was intercepted twice and fumbled once.
Cornerback Deshea Townsend ran back Brady's first pickoff 39 yards for a touchdown that put the Steelers up, 14-3, late in the first quarter.
"I got stripped trying to find [running back Kevin Faulk] down field," Brady said. "In the second one, I threw it [and] next thing I knew, he turned with it going the other way.
"We've just got to learn from it -- it's the seventh game of the year and there is a lot of football to be played," Brady said. "We're going to regroup."
Townsend said a strong pass rush helped the secondary produce.
"We applied pressure all day," Townsend said. "[Linebacker] Joey [Porter] had pressure, the D-line applied pressure."
Costly fumble
Trailing 24-10 at halftime, the Patriots coughed up the ball again on their first play of the third quarter. Brady hit Faulk at the New England 22 and Porter's hit produced a fumble.
Four plays later, Jerome Bettis scored from 2 yards out for a 21-point lead.
Midway through the third quarter, the Patriots settled for Adam Vinatieri's 25-yard field goal to reduce the Steelers' advantage to 31-13.
Pittsburgh responded with a 14-play drive -- all runs -- that ate 8:35 off the clock as Jeff Reed kicked a 29-yard field goal.
"We made some plays [late] to [tighten] the game, but I think it was too much to overcome," Brady said.
Unexpected rout
Townsend said Brady "is such a good quarterback [that] he will make plays in the end. But those plays -- dump offs to the running back -- we'll take. They are such a good team that you never expect to beat them [like this]."
Vrabel said Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger "made some good throws and his numbers were good, but I don't think we put him in a position where he had to win the game. He handed it off and he didn't fumble."
Asked if Corey Dillon would have made a difference, Belichick shrugged and said, "You tell me -- he didn't play."