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PIT |
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Brady starts his 20th season by beating Steelers 33-3
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The New England Patriots trolled the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday and then blew them out Sunday night.
A day after the acquiring former Steelers malcontent Antonio Brown, the reigning Super Bowl champions showed they might not even need him, getting 341 yards and three touchdown passes from 42-year-old Tom Brady to beat Pittsburgh 33-3.
''Well, he's the best in the world,'' Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. ''There's a reason he's the best when he's out there doing his thing.''
Phillip Dorsett caught two touchdown passes, including a 58-yard score, and Josh Gordon - another receiver who wore out his welcome elsewhere - caught one TD pass. On the night New England unveiled its sixth NFL championship banner, Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman caught six passes for 83 yards and also completed a throw to help the Patriots begin their title defense.
No one has won back-to-back NFL titles since New England did it in 2003 and `04.
''We were so locked in on the moment. We were locked in because we knew of the expectations,'' defensive back Duron Harmon said. ''We knew that when we had the opportunity to play the Steelers, on opening night, with the banner raising, we were going to do everything possible to prepare the right way.''
Facing the last team to beat them, back in Week 15 last year, the Patriots opened a 20-0 lead before Pittsburgh kicked a field goal on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 10:17 left in the third quarter. Brady responded with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Dorsett and a 27-3 lead.
Dorsett had four catches for 95 yards and the first multi-score game of his career. He will be moving down the depth chart Monday when the Patriots are expected to make Brown's signing official.
''He's a playmaker,'' Edelman said. ''The more playmakers you have, the more dynamic we can be.''
The move couldn't be welcome in Pittsburgh. Unable to get Brown to behave, the Steelers refused to trade the disgruntled diva to New England only to see him wind up with the team that has reached the AFC championship game eight straight seasons.
''Whatever,'' Roethlisberger said
''Didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it or dwelling on it,'' said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. ''I'm not specifically worried about anything relative to Antonio Brown.''
Roethlisberger completed 27 of 47 passes for 277 yards and an interception, though 116 of the yards came on non-scoring drives in the fourth quarter with the Steelers down four scores. The offense showed the effects of losing two of its biggest playmakers: Brown, who talked and tweeted his way out of both Pittsburgh and Oakland in one offseason, and running back Le'Veon Bell, a two-time All-Pro who sat out all of last season to avoid a franchise tag.
In their place, James Conner gained 21 yards on 10 carries; the Steelers gained only 32 yards rushing in all. Top receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster caught six passes for 78 yards, 26 of it coming on one throw in the final six minutes with the Steelers already trailing 33-3.
The drive ended when Roethlisberger threw it into the end zone from the 41-yard line and was picked off by Devin McCourty.
The Steelers had five full possessions in the first half and punted on four of them, going three-and-out three times.
''We got our butts whooped,'' defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said.
AB NEGATIVE
Brown, who asked for and was granted his release by Oakland on Saturday morning and then agreed to terms with the Patriots in the afternoon, and was not yet eligible to play.
There was no sign of him at the stadium. The Patriots are expected to announce on Monday the one-year deal that will guarantee the four-time All-Pro $9 million. Asked about it during his postgame news conference, coach Bill Belichick didn't even allow a reporter to finish his question.
''Do you have any comment on the reports ... ''
''No,'' Belichick interrupted. ''Next.''
''Of Antonio Brown ...''
''Next,'' Belichick said.
BANNER NIGHT
The Patriots made room for another Super Bowl memento above their south end zone.
The team unveiled their sixth championship banner before the game in a ceremony that included fireworks and a highlight video projected onto a screen covering much of the field.
Drew Bledsoe, Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Rob Ninkovich and Martellus Bennett brought out the first five Lombardi Trophies. Owner Robert Kraft brought out the one the team won in February by beating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 - the one that was dented by Rob Gronkowski when he used it for batting practice at the Boston Red Sox opener.
Kraft received a big cheer from the fans, who seemed unbothered by charges that he solicited prostitution in a Florida massage parlor. Gronkowski, who retired in March, also received a loud cheer.
INJURIES
Steelers: Linebacker T.J. Watt left with a hip injury and did not return.
Patriots: Linebacker Marcus Cannon had a shoulder injury.
UP NEXT
Steelers: Host the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday.
Patriots: Visit Miami next Sunday.
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Copyright 2019 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
B. Roethlisberger
7 QB 276 PaYds, INT, 7 RuYds |
9
FPTS
|
|
T. Brady
12 QB 341 PaYds, 3 PaTDs |
31
FPTS
|
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | 27:27 | 32:33 |
1st Downs | 15 | 24 |
Rushing | 1 | 8 |
Passing | 11 | 15 |
Penalty | 3 | 1 |
3rd Down Conv | 3-12 | 7-14 |
4th Down Conv | 1-3 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 309 | 465 |
Total Plays | 61 | 67 |
Avg Gain | 5.1 | 6.9 |
Net Yards Rushing | 32 | 99 |
Rush Attempts | 13 | 29 |
Avg Rush Yards | 2.5 | 3.4 |
Net Yards Passing | 277 | 366 |
Comp. - Att. | 27-47 | 25-37 |
Yards Per Pass | 5.9 | 9.9 |
Penalties - Yards | 6-54 | 7-55 |
Touchdowns | 0 | 3 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 3 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 2-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 5-38.6 | 3-41.0 |
Return Yards | 43 | 70 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 2-35 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 2-43 | 2-35 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Red Zone Eff. | 0-1 -0% | 0-3 -0% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 0-1 -0% | 0-1 -0% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
B. Roethlisberger
7 QB
9 FPTS
|
B. Roethlisberger | 27/47 | 276 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Conner
30 RB
6 FPTS
|
J. Conner | 10 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Roethlisberger
7 QB
9 FPTS
|
B. Roethlisberger | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Samuels
38 RB
0 FPTS
|
J. Samuels | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Smith-Schuster
19 WR
7 FPTS
|
J. Smith-Schuster | 8 | 6 | 78 | 0 | 26 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Washington
13 WR
5 FPTS
|
J. Washington | 6 | 2 | 51 | 0 | 45 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Conner
30 RB
6 FPTS
|
J. Conner | 4 | 4 | 44 | 0 | 23 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
V. McDonald
89 TE
4 FPTS
|
V. McDonald | 4 | 2 | 40 | 0 | 21 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Switzer
10 WR
2 FPTS
|
R. Switzer | 6 | 6 | 29 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Johnson
18 WR
2 FPTS
|
D. Johnson | 5 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 9 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Moncrief
11 WR
0 FPTS
|
D. Moncrief | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Samuels
38 RB
0 FPTS
|
J. Samuels | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Holton
80 WR
0 FPTS
|
J. Holton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
D. Bush
55 LB
|
D. Bush | 7-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Barron
26 ILB
|
M. Barron | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Haden
23 CB
|
J. Haden | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hilton
28 CB
|
M. Hilton | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Kelly
29 DB
|
K. Kelly | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Edmunds
34 SS
|
T. Edmunds | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Dupree
48 OLB
|
B. Dupree | 4-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Alualu
94 DE
|
T. Alualu | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Heyward
97 DE
|
C. Heyward | 3-5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Tuitt
91 DE
|
S. Tuitt | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. Williams
98 ILB
|
V. Williams | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Dangerfield
37 DB
|
J. Dangerfield | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Matakevich
44 ILB
|
T. Matakevich | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Holton
80 WR
|
J. Holton | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Sutton
20 CB
|
C. Sutton | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Watt
90 OLB
|
T. Watt | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Burns
25 CB
|
A. Burns | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Nelson
22 CB
|
S. Nelson | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Samuels
38 RB
|
J. Samuels | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. Boswell
9 K
3 FPTS
|
C. Boswell | 1/1 | 19 | 0/0 | 3 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Berry
4 P
|
J. Berry | 5 | 45.6 | 2 | 58 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
R. Switzer
10 WR
2 FPTS
|
R. Switzer | 2 | 21.5 | 26 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
T. Brady
12 QB
31 FPTS
|
T. Brady | 24/36 | 341 | 3 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Edelman
11 WR
9 FPTS
|
J. Edelman | 1/1 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
R. Burkhead
34 RB
8 FPTS
|
R. Burkhead | 8 | 44 | 0 | 11 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. White
28 RB
7 FPTS
|
J. White | 4 | 26 | 0 | 9 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Michel
26 RB
1 FPTS
|
S. Michel | 15 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Edelman
11 WR
9 FPTS
|
J. Edelman | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Bolden
38 RB
0 FPTS
|
B. Bolden | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
P. Dorsett
13 WR
21 FPTS
|
P. Dorsett | 4 | 4 | 95 | 2 | 58 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Edelman
11 WR
9 FPTS
|
J. Edelman | 11 | 6 | 83 | 0 | 24 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gordon
10 WR
13 FPTS
|
J. Gordon | 4 | 3 | 73 | 1 | 44 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. White
28 RB
7 FPTS
|
J. White | 7 | 5 | 56 | 0 | 32 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Burkhead
34 RB
8 FPTS
|
R. Burkhead | 8 | 5 | 41 | 0 | 17 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Meyers
16 WR
2 FPTS
|
J. Meyers | 1 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Izzo
85 TE
0 FPTS
|
R. Izzo | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
D. Hightower
54 OLB
|
D. Hightower | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McCourty
30 CB
|
J. McCourty | 6-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Collins
58 OLB
|