Steelers give Brady credit
Following the loss, Pittsburgh spoke highly of the quarterback's talent.
By ROB TODOR
VINDICATOR SPORTS EDITOR
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Early in the week, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he considered his Patriots counterpart, Tom Brady, to be the best in the NFL.
Following Sunday's 23-20 loss to New England, Roethlisberger and his Steeler teammates were just as in awe.
After Brady drove the Patriots 37 yards in 1:20 to set up Adam Vinatieri's game-winning field goal, Roethlisberger said he paid Brady the ultimate compliment.
"I told Tom that if I was a coach, [he's] who I'd want on the field [in a game-deciding drive]," Roethlisberger said.
Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward said Brady's reputation is well-earned because he's done it more than once.
"That's why he's the man," said Ward. "Everybody keeps [asking] who's the best in the league, and he just showed you who's the best in the league. He's not doing it just [as] a one-time thing; he's doing it on a consistent level."
Game details
Brady finished 31-of-41 for 372 yards. He didn't throw a touchdown pass, was intercepted once -- on a tipped pass -- and sacked three times, but in the fourth quarter he completed all 12 of his pass attempts for 167 yards as the Patriots scored a touchdown and two field goals.
He accomplished much of it after starting left tackle Matt Light went down with a leg injury in the second quarter and was replaced by rookie Nick Kaczur. In fact, New England had two first-year players -- Kaczur and left guard Logan Mankins -- on the offensive line.
"Everyone needs to be ready to go," said New England coach Bill Belichick.
Steelers linebacker James Farrior had a team-high 15 tackles, but had to give Brady his due.
"He understands his offense, and he manages it well," Farrior said of Brady. "He's a clutch player, and he doesn't get rattled too often."
None of the Steelers defenders saw anything different in New England's pass protection after Light's injury, though the Patriots did commit more backs and tight ends to counter Pittsburgh's blitzes.
"We stayed with our game plan," said Farrior. "We can't try to attack somebody just because they're a young guy. We just got to play our game, and we didn't enough today."
Pittsburgh nose tackle Casey Hampton noted the Patriots' success on third down -- 8-of-16 -- as a key to their victory.
"We gave up too many third downs," he said. "That's something we [normally] do a good job of, getting off the field on third down.
"That's what [Brady] does. The guy's not won three Super Bowls for nothing. You can't leave anybody open because he's going to find them. We just didn't finish it the way we know we can finish it."
todor@vindy.com