This game lost some of its luster on Monday when the Steelers announced that Ben Roethlisbeger wouldn't be playing due to a knee injury. That being said, even if Big Ben had been able to play against the Patriots, it might not have mattered, because the Steelers can never figure out how to stop Tom Brady.
The Patriots quarterback has faced the Steelers a total of 10 times in his career, including the playoffs, and has gone 8-2 against them (6-2 regular season, 2-0 playoffs). Now, you could argue that Brady has a good record and plays well against every opponent, and that would be true. But he seems to turn things up a notch when he plays the Steelers.
In the 10 games where Brady has faced Pittsburgh, he's thrown for a total of 2,926 yards and 24 touchdowns, along with just three interceptions. Over the course of a 16-game season, that would be about 38 touchdowns and 4,682 yards.
In the eight regular season games against the Steelers, Brady has averaged an absurd 325.5 yards per game.
In each of the past two meetings with Pittsburgh (2013, 2015), Brady threw four touchdown passes and zero interceptions in each game.
Brady's dominance in Pittsburgh has spanned two Steelers' coaching staffs, as he's 4-1 against both Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. Basically, no one in Pittsburgh knows how to stop Brady.
The good news for Steelers fans is that Brady does seem to be beatable in Pittsburgh. The quarterback is 4-2 overall in games at Heinz Field.
The other good news for Steelers fans is that there's a good chance that one of these two teams will make it all the way to the AFC title game. Of the 15 AFC title games since 2001, 13 of them featured either the Steelers or the Patriots. That total includes the title game after the 2001 and 2004 seasons, when the two teams played each other.
How to Watch
- What: New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
- When: Sunday, Oct. 23, 4:25 p.m. ET
- Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- TV: CBS (Jim Nantz and Phil Simms on the call with Tracy Wolfson on the sidelines)
- Online: Sunday Ticket or NFL GamePass (game won't be available on GamePass until midnight)
- Odds: The Patriots are 7-point favorites (via SportsLine)
Injury Report
Patriots
- TE Martellus Bennett (Ankle) -- Questionable
- RB Brandon Bolden (Knee) -- Questionable
- LB Jamie Collins (Hip) -- Questionable
- WR Julian Edelman (Foot) -- Questionable
- DL Woodrow Hamilton (Shoulder) -- Questionable
- LB Shea McClellin (Concussion) -- Questionable
- WR Malcolm Mitchell (Hamstring) -- Questionable
- LB Elandon Roberts (Ankle) -- Questionable
- DL Vincent Valentine (Back) -- Questionable
Steelers
- OT Marcus Gilbert (Ankle) -- Out
- DE Cameron Heyward (Hamstring) -- Out
- QB Ben Roethlisberger (Knee) -- Out
- S Shamarko Thomas (Groin) -- Out
- OL Cody Wallace (Knee) -- Out
- WR Markus Wheaton (Shoulder) -- Out
- RB DeAngelo Williams (Knee) -- Out
Prisco's Pick
This was supposed to be a battle of Ben Roethlisberger against Tom Brady. But with Roethlisberger out, it's Landry Jones against Brady. That's a mismatch. Brady lights up the Steelers defense.
Pick: Patriots 34, Steelers 17
