Everyone has an off game.

Series History

The Patriots and Steelers will square off for the fifth time in five seasons, for the 10th time in 11 seasons and for the third time in less than a calendar year. The two teams played just eight months ago in the AFC Championship Game, a contest won by the Patriots after suffering a loss to Pittsburgh in the 2004 regular season that ended New England’s NFL-record 21-game winning streak. The recent rivalry between the teams began in 2001, when New England scored a 24-17 upset win at Heinz Field in the AFC Championship Game as part of New England’s first Super Bowl run. The teams followed that memorable matchup in the grand opening of Gillette Stadium in 2002, with the Patriots breaking in their new home with 30-14 win on Monday Night Football. The Patriots have won four of the last five meetings dating back to the 1998 season. Of the previous 21 games in the series, 15 have been played in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers own a 9-5 advantage. New England, however, has won the two playoff meetings at Heinz Field in the 2001 and 2004 AFC Championship Games. (From Patriot's Website)