Steelers begin tough stretch in N. England

The Patriors are impressed by the Steelers’ defense, among the best in the NFL.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The more Matt Cassel sees opposing defenses, the better he plays.

The stand-in for Tom Brady who became a standout for the New England Patriots hasn’t seen anything like the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“You do it against the Steelers,” Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark said, “you did something.”

If Cassel can do it today, he will add another amazing accomplishment to a season in which he’s grown from a backup to the reigning NFL MVP for the fourth straight year to the league’s 11th-rated quarterback — ahead of Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steelers’ defense allowed the second-fewest points last year and is even stingier now, giving up the fewest yards rushing, the fewest passing and the fewest points in the NFL. They also have the most sacks in the AFC.

So don’t expect Cassel to throw for 415 yards again as he did last Sunday. Or even the 400 he gained through the air in his previous game. Not against a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 290 yards in any game this season.

“We change from one week to the next based on game plan. It is all based on what their defense does,” said Cassel, a first-time starter who is learning on the fly. “In the last two weeks, we threw the ball a lot. I don’t know if that will be the case this week.”

If it is, he must avoid linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, who are second and third in the AFC in sacks. And he’ll have to keep the ball away from safety Troy Polamalu, whose five interceptions lead the conference.

“There aren’t enough superlatives to use on their defense,” New England coach Bill Belichick said. “They lead the league in everything and deserve to. They are very good at every position and have a great scheme.”

The Patriots have more at stake as they try to dominate — or at least eke out a win — as they did in last year’s 34-13 victory over the Steelers at Foxborough.

New England (7-4) trails the New York Jets by one game in the AFC East and is just 5-4 in the conference, a potential tiebreaker for a playoff spot. Pittsburgh (8-3) leads the AFC North by one game over Baltimore and is 7-1 in the conference.

But the toughest stretch is ahead for the Steelers. After New England, they’ll play host to Dallas (7-4), then visit Baltimore (7-4) and Tennessee (10-1).

“They’re all going to be playoff atmosphere games,” Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward said. “Every team we play has the opportunity to make the playoffs this year and you might end up seeing those teams again.”