Patriots Off to a Good Start

They opened a new stadium, settled an old score and proved to the nation that the NFL balance of power hasn’t shifted much in the last seven months.

Can things get any sweeter for the New England Patriots?

“We’re the champs,” cornerback Ty Law said. “We don’t have to prove anything to anybody.”

The defending Super Bowl champions slapped a muzzle on the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 30-14 victory before a crowd of 68,436 at Gillette Stadium.

The game was anything but a close shave for the Patriots, who forced five turnovers and scored as many touchdowns on offense (three) as they did throughout their postseason run. Tom Brady, still considered a stopgap quarterback by some, threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots ran the ball only four times in the first half, and, at one point, Brady threw 25 consecutive passes.

The commanding victory was a big first step for the Patriots, trying to become only the seventh franchise in NFL history to repeat as Super Bowl champions. And it was witnessed live by former President George Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, both guests of NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

The Patriots had the dignitaries; the Steelers just wanted to escape with their dignity. Pittsburgh came into the game with a full tank of incentives and hungry to avenge a 24-17 loss to New England in the last season’s AFC championship game. That one really stung, especially because Pittsburgh’s offense outscored and outgained the Patriots, but the special teams gave up touchdowns on a blocked field goal and a punt return. Then, in the giddy afterglow of victory, Patriot players rubbed rock salt in the wounds by strutting.

“It wasn’t a reaction of excitement or appreciation,” Steeler linebacker Jason Gildon recently told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “It was more of a gloating reaction.”

Monday, New England players left the chest-thumping to their fans, who serenaded them with “We Are the Champions” at one point. Before the game, Patriot owner Bob Kraft stood at a midfield and welcomed the fans to the new stadium, talking more about the $325-million venue than recounting the glory of last season.

The Steelers, who have lost five of seven season openers, were locked in a 7-7 game for much of the first half. The turning point came late in the second quarter when Pittsburgh had a first and goal at the one--thanks to a pass-interference penalty on Law--then made a mind-boggling string of mistakes.

First, Pittsburgh was called for a false start and had to move back to the six. After Stewart was tackled for a one-yard loss and Plaxico Burress caught a pass in the back of the end zone but couldn’t get both feet inbounds, Amos Zereoue was stopped a yard short of a touchdown on a third-down screen pass.

Zereoue didn’t take too kindly to Lawyer Milloy mouthing off after making the tackle, so he popped to his feet, shoved the Pro Bowl safety and was flagged for unnecessary roughness. That gave the Steelers a fourth and goal from the 16, then they collected another false start for good measure.

When Todd Peterson’s 39-yard field-goal attempt fluttered wide left, Steeler Coach Bill Cowher stood speechless.

The Patriots responded with a drive to set up a 45-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri for a 10-7 advantage.

The game was a testament to Patriot preparedness. At training camp this summer, New England players wore T-shirts that read “Targeting September,” with their first four opponents--the Steelers, Jets, Chiefs and Chargers--all within a bull’s-eye.

And that focus was evident in Brady, who at 24 became the youngest quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory.

Other players integral to New England’s success are receiver Troy Brown, who had 101 catches last season, and running back Antowain Smith, looking for back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Brown caught six passes for 22 yards against the Steelers. Smith gained 60 yards in 17 carries.