PITTSBURGH – The most basic element of this game is belief, belief in yourself and belief in your teammates.
When no one else believes.
That lesson was driven home again yesterday in stunning fashion as the 10-point underdog Patriots shocked the Super cocky Steelers, 24-17 at Heinz Field to capture the AFC Championship and make it back to New Orleans for Super Bowl XXXVI and a date with destiny and the Rams.
“Being in New England we haven’t had respect since I’ve been here, that’s the bottom line” said safety Lawyer Milloy, who spoke so passionately Friday, saying his Pats were going to pull off the upset. “I think the only way we are going to get our respect is not just making it to the Super Bowl; that’s to win it.”
To make this dream season a reality, quarterback Drew Bledsoe came back from the depths of professional despair, replacing an injured Tom Brady with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter.
Bledsoe had not played in 126 days. In his last performance, on Sept. 23, he suffered such a serious chest injury in a 10-3 loss to the Jets that he had to be wheeled out on a gurney, soon after taking a vicious shot from Mo Lewis. It became Brady’s team then – and Brady’s storybook season.
But all Bledsoe did yesterday was hit his first three passes, including an 11-yard strike to wide receiver David Patten for New England’s only offensive touchdown with 58 seconds remaining in the half that put Bill Belichick’s Pats on top, 14-3.
Bledsoe’s leadership, coupled with a legendary special teams performance from Troy Brown, earned New England the victory. Brown broke a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown to start the scoring and then set up a 49-yard Antwan Harris touchdown off a blocked field goal when he scooped up the loose ball and made a seamless lateral to Harris at midfield.
This was Bledsoe’s first win as a quarterback all season. The Patriots were 0-2 in his previous two games.
When it was over, when Bledsoe held the AFC Championship trophy in his hands, tears rolled down his cheeks. His father Mac was there to give him a hug.
“We’ve been feeling Drew’s pain all year,” Milloy said.
Bledsoe’s pain started in training camp when quarterback coach Dick Rehbeil died of heart failure.
“It’s been a very long year personally,” said Bledsoe of his outpouring of emotions. “It started all the way back in training camp with the loss of my quarterback coach and to start out 0-2 and to get injured, and then not be able to get back on the field.
“I have to say honestly that I had gone through it in my mind and had envisioned this scenario,” he said of his heroic performance (10-for-21 for 102 yards, one TD and no interceptions). “To have it happen and to be kneeling on the ball at the end of the game and going to the Super Bowl, it’s just a little overwhelming.”
Even though there is now a Super Bowl quarterback controversy – Belichick would not say who’s starting Sunday – there are no jealousies between the two golden arms.
“I’m excited to see him play well,” said Brady, who was jumping on one leg in celebration after injuring his left ankle and knee. “For a guy who hadn’t played in 14 weeks, he certainly went out there and made a lot of great throws.”
Trailing 21-3 after Harris’ TD return, the Steelers scored two third quarter TDs to make it close, but it’s hard to play catch-up in a championship game, even if the place is named Heinz Field.
The New England defense stiffened as Kordell Stewart (24-for-42, 255 yards and no touchdowns) overshot receivers. Throughout the day it was the Patriots who played spirited football, completely shutting down Pittsburgh’s running game.
“It was so obvious that they disrespected us,” Milloy said of the Steelers, who made the same mistake in 1995 against the Chargers, taking them too lightly on another unusually warm day here. “We believe in each other, we are a team.”
That’s what this game is all about.
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