Two Champions play Superbowl 2005 on February, 6th
AFC Champions -- Again New England Patriots
New England knocked off the No. 1 seed Steelers and did it convincingly, 41-27. Next stop, Jacksonville.
Defensive struggle? Really, what does anyone really know?
The Patriots broke out to a 24-3 halftime lead and although the Steelers made it interesting in the second half, rookie Ben Roethlisberger made too many mistakes and the Patriots made too many plays for Pittsburgh to really have a chance as New England piled on the points to the tune of 41-27.
The Patriots are AFC Champs -- again.
Tom Brady was a humble 14 of 21 passing for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Deion Branch came up big with 4 catches for 116 yards and a score while David Givens had five catches -- all of them seemingly at key times -- for 59 yards and a score.
Corey Dillon's mere presence was a difference from the earlier meeting of the two teams. While he only gained 73 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown, he was his usual clock killer as the game wound down.
Call it rookie jitters, playoff pressure or just a plain overthrow, but it was Eugene Wilson picking off Roethlisberger right off the bat. On the Steelers first series of the game, Big Ben ( 14 of 24 for 226 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions) faced a third and three and was high on his attempt to Antwaan Randle El. Wilson came up with the ball as it was tipped into the air off Randle El's fingers.
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Fred Kirsch
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Patriots play like champions in 41-27 win
The New England Patriots played like the defending Super Bowl champions they are in a 41-27 win over the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.
The New England Patriots arrived in Pittsburgh wearing the mantel of defending Super Bowl champions, and then last Sunday night they played up to that standard. The Patriots took control of the AFC Championship Game early by building a 24-3 halftime lead, and they withstood every Steelers challenge in the second half along the way to a 41-27 win and a berth in Super Bowl XXXIX on Feb. 6 in Jacksonville.
In an eerie bit of irony, the Patriots’ first half lead was identical to the first-half lead the Steelers built in the Oct. 31 game between the teams that they won, 34-20.
One week after throwing two interceptions against the New York Jets, Ben Roethlisberger had another difficult outing against the Patriots. This time he threw three interceptions, one of which was returned 87 yards for a touchdown by Rodney Harrison, and that gave the Patriots that 24-3 halftime lead.
"That was at least a 10-point swing, maybe more," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. "Rodney undercut the tight end on the out-route, and he got a nice block from Mike Vrabel at the end (of the return). Rodney has been a big player for us all year, and he stepped up again in the big game and made another one."
Another player who came up big for the Patriots was quarterback Tom Brady. After throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble in the Steelers regular season win over the Patriots, Brady played more like the two-time Super Bowl MVP that he is.
Brady completed 14-of-21 for 207 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was especially effective on his deep passes, with Deion Branch catching one for 45 yards and another for a 60-yard touchdown. Brady now is 8-0 as a starting quarterback in the playoffs.
"Tom, to me, is kind of the same guy every day and every game," said Belichick. "Not every play is perfect, but most of them are pretty good, and he’s very well prepared. He’s a smart and tough guy and a great competitor. He seems like he’s always ready to play. I don’t think the magnitude of the game or the crowd noise or the situation bothers him. He’s able to focus on what he has to do, and usually does a pretty good job on it."
Roethlisberger came into the conference championship game riding a 15-game winning streak as the starting quarterback, but it all fell apart quickly against the Patriots.
His first pass of the game was high and behind Antwaan Randle El, and Patriots safety Eugene Wilson made the interception that set up the Patriots on a field goal drive that gave them a 3-0 lead. Things didn’t get appreciably better for him during the rest of a first half in which he completed 5-of-10 for 77 yards, a first half that also included Harrison’s interception return for a touchdown.
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BOB LABRIOLA
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Post-Game Quotes
Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher
Steelers Players
Additional Steelers Players Quotes
Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
Patriots Players Quotes
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Eagles top Falcons 27-10
PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 23, 2005) -- Fireworks soared above the roof of "The Linc." A blizzard of glitter swirled in the bitterly cold breeze. Fans toasted their team and each other with beers and hugs.
It was a Super-sized celebration four years in the making. And quite a relief, too. Yo, Philly, how's this sound? Your Eagles are going to the Super Bowl.
Donovan McNabb & Co. overcame the burden of three consecutive losses in the NFC championship game and warmed a frozen city's heart, stuffing Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons 27-10.
McNabb isn't satisfied yet. "There's no relief for me," he said. "We'll have relief after the Super Bowl. We set a goal of winning the Super Bowl, not just the NFC. So that's where I'm going. We're excited, but we're not done."
NFL.com wire reports
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Will Eagles Terrell Owens Play In Super Bowl?
January 24, 2005
Now comes the question everybody wants the answer to, the question that everyone claims to have "information" on, the question that could have a decided impact on Super Bowl XXXIX:. Will wide receiver Terrell Owens play when the Eagles square off against New England in Jacksonville? Head coach Andy Reid doesn't know. He is encouraged by Owens' progress from his December 22 surgery to repair a severely sprained right ankle, but the truth is that it's too early to tell.
It is fair to say that the next few days are critical in Owens' recovery.
"He's going to continue his rehab. Somewhere in the next few days here, he's going to try and run on that thing, jog on it, see what he can do and progress from there," said Reid. "He's coming in every day for treatment -- he's been working in the pool, running in the pool, but it's a matter of him getting out and trying it on land here without the water."
Owens is very anxious to get back in action. He reportedly met with his surgeon, Dr. Mark Myerson, last week and hoped to get clearance to play against Atlanta.
That hope was dashed.
But now, five weeks after his surgery, Owens is ready to proceed to the next phase of his recovery.
DAVE SPADARO
posted by free news @ 2:55 PM
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