Friday, January 21, 2005
superbowl gambling: afc championship game Jan 23rd
The Steelers could create an uproar over being an underdog in Sunday's AFC Championship Game, but they haven't. They could remind a forgetful football world of their Oct. 31 rout of the Patriots, but they won't."That game, this year, it's all luck," offensive lineman Keydrick Vincent said, smiling, tongue totally in cheek. Plaxico Burress could reminisce about how he torched New
England's depleted secondary in that previous meeting, but ... actually, now that you mention it, facts are facts." We took advantage of them last time," Burress said yesterday of the Patriots' patchwork defensive backfield. "They're basically the same team in the secondary, as far as personnel."
But then, on the prospect of repeating that feat Sunday, Burress said, "We'll just see what happens.". The Steelers are quietly eager to see what happens at Heinz Field Sunday. Collectively, they have been measured in their comments, avoiding any wars of words, although they are mindful that they handled New England, 34-20, in a game in which Pittsburgh possessed the ball for an obscene 42:58.
And yet, the Steelers are a three-point underdog in this meeting, partly because of their shaky overtime victory over the Jets on Saturday." This is the championship game. We don't need any extra motivation," linebacker Larry Foote said. "Last week they said we were the best thing since sliced bread; this week they're saying we're going to lose.
"But you've got to go with them (as the favorite). They won two of the last three Super Bowls; (Tom) Brady is undefeated in the playoffs. You've got to go with them. But it doesn't matter. Sunday is going to take care of itself." One of the most pivotal players figures to be Burress, Pittsburgh's 6-5, 226-pound deep threat. The Steelers might be inclined to play it safe with rookie Ben Roethlisberger after his nearly disastrous playoff debut, but Burress might be too much for the Patriots to handle.
He certainly was in that first meeting. Burress burned New England for a 47-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter, and he scored again six plays later. The Patriots had Ty Law only for a few plays that day, and they won't have the injured Law or fellow corner Tyrone Poole at all Sunday.
