Learn something about the 2002 AFC Championship

The Steelers lost the game because of Troy Brown and Drew Bledsoe, as a Steeler fan I can admit to poor special teams play and solid QB play from Bledsoe. Kordell Stewart played like crap, our defense held New England to one TD.( Bledsoe to Brown). It was six years ago, even without the contorversy,  the Steelers did not deserve to win that game.

I agree with Chuck33 though, whether several Patriot posters on this board want to admit it or not, thier arrogance and denial is the main focus of all the negativity.  And not all Pats fans are like that, I have several of them as my favorites, sometimes it's just smack talk. Bottom line is that Bellichick had success with the tapes so he continued to do it, and most of us do not buy his horsecrap excuse that "I guess I did not understand the rules". This coming from a man who memorizes the rule book so he knows when he can or cannot throw the red flag at critical junctures of the game.  He lied, plain and simple because he was embarassed he got caught. Although other teams may have done it, they were not the ones caught holding the bag of tapes getting slapped with a 750K in fines and loss of a draft pick, somebody smarter than us also thinks it was a pretty big deal.  

Valid points slashsnake, it could have helped them with not turning the ball over, I will admit that, but thats one of the things the Patriots do best in all of their postseason games, they don't turn the ball over, hell they didn't even turn the ball over in the past Super Bowl.

nynet

familiarize yourself with this phrase please

"turnover on downs"

thanks

The Patriots DON'T turn the ball over in the playoffs?

Then why is the most famous play of their franchise the infamous "tuck" which was a fumble that got called an incomplete pass? Was that not the week before this Steelers game where they didnt turn the ball over against the best D in football?

Oh, and did Tom Brady not throw 3 interceptions against the Chargers in this year's AFC Championship?

And I do recall him throwing an INT at the GOAL LINE against the Panthers too.

Didn't he throw an INT on 4th down of that game against the Chargers which should have sealed it in 2006? Did Troy Brown not save his ass again by forcing a fumble on Marlon McCree? And wasn't that Brady's 2nd or 3rd INT of the game?

Did he not throw an INT to Champ Bailey on that critical goal-line play when their dynasty officially ended in Denver?

Yes, I do think the Pats would have turned the ball over against the Steelers D. They may not turn the ball over against the above-average and mediocre teams they meet in the wild-card rounds (Jets 2006, Jags 2005) but against the better defenses they face, they turn the ball over, and the Steelers (as someone has already pointed out) were the #1 defense in the NFL that year and had forced 13 turnovers in the past 3 games. They could have easily gotten some cheap points and field position out of a couple of turnovers from the Pats that day.

We have. As the greatest dynasty in the free agency era. Thank you very much.

Not surprised to see Bermyballguru back here calling out the Pats yet again. Must be hard having to watch a team year after year with one of the highest payrolls win squat. Keep bowing to that Joe Gibbs poster after their last SB win. Its gonna be a while.

It's pretty simple.

They used the knowledge that they gained from cheating to keep the game close.

Remember as well that the Steelers were then predicated by defense, not offense. Scoring on them was an accomplishment in itself.

Brady played a very good game against the Steelers before being hurt, and with subpar talent at the WR position, and on offense in general.

Antowain Smith and J.R. Redmond were the leading rushers. Troy Brown was able to exploit the blitz, go figure, to the tune of 8 catches for 121 yards. That should not normally happen against the Steelers.

12 of 18 with no interceptions is a good day against the Steelers.

You can play dumb and say how does knowing what the defense is going to do effect a game, you still have to execute all you want, but it just makes you look dumb.

I mean, do you know how to play your poker hand when you know your opponent's cards?

I think even you do....

The only thing we learned was how desperate people have become klinging to pathetic excuses for a team that doesn't care one bit about the fans.