Steelers offer little resistance as Tom Brady pads records, Super Bowl resume
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady allowed himself to crack a smile. He even swore.
The New England Patriots quarterback had just set the franchise playoff record for passing yards (384) in a 36-17 dismantling of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. As reporters asked him questions, the reality was setting in.
“It was a good day,” Brady said during his press conference Sunday night. “We’re going to the Super Bowl, man, (expletive). We’ve got to be happy now.”
Brady, who missed the first four games of the season because of his Deflategate suspension, will now head to his record seventh Super Bowl, where the Patriots will face the Atlanta Falcons.
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“That’s because of the hard work of a lot of people from my coaches to my teammates to our families that support us,” Brady said. “It takes a lot of people, a lot of hard work, and a lot of effort over the course of many months. This didn’t start at 6:40 tonight. This thing started in April.
“It’s a lot of hard work. There are only two teams left standing, and I’m happy we’re one of them. That’s what our goal is, and it’s nice to be able to achieve that.”
From the very first series, the Steelers came out with a curious look on defense. Pittsburgh largely played zone coverage throughout Sunday’s game and relied on its pass rush — sometimes just three players — to get to Brady. The problem was, the Steelers didn’t create any pressure.
So Brady, who was sacked twice and hit only three times all night, typically had ample time in the pocket. He completed 32 of 42 passes, three for touchdowns.
“He’s no joke, man,” Steelers safety Mike Mitchell said after the game.
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Added Pittsburgh defensive end Stephon Tuitt: “He ripped us apart.”
Even when the Steelers blitzed Brady, they gave up the big play. According to Pro Football Focus, Pittsburgh blitzed six times Sunday — and Brady completed six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in response.
“Any time you’re on the field with No. 12, it’s special,” New England receiver Chris Hogan said. “You never take that for granted. He’s the greatest, and he’s a huge part of why we’re so successful.”
A victory in Super Bowl LI would give Brady five championships. His seventh conference title is most of any quarterback in the Super Bowl era. His seven appearances in the Super Bowl will give him the most of any NFL player ... ever. His 61 postseason passing touchdowns are an NFL record — and 16 more than the next-closest player, Joe Montana. Brady's 24 playoff victories are eight more than Montana's second-place total.
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“We’re going to enjoy this,” Brady said. “Because you never know if you’ll get these opportunities in life.
"Fortunately this team got the opportunity, and now we’ve got to do something to try to take advantage of it.”
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Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes
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