Vinatieri’s Kick Caps Brady’s Decisive Drive

It all seemed to be too much, even for a New England Patriot team that seems to always win big games: The injuries, a second-half deficit, a Pittsburgh Steeler team determined to show it is now the best in the AFC.

The Patriots, badly depleted by injuries, withstood the longest scoring pass play against them in 15 years and two turnovers inside the Pittsburgh 10 to rally in the fourth quarter behind quarterback Tom Brady, beating the Steelers, 23-20, Sunday on Adam Vinatieri’s 43-yard field goal with one second to play.

“They showed us today why they’re the champs,” Steeler linebacker Larry Foote said.

New England, trailing for most of the game, led, 20-13, late in the fourth quarter when a pass interference call on Chad Scott on a fourth-and-11 play set up Ben Roethlisberger’s second scoring pass to Hines Ward, a four-yard toss that tied the score with 1 minute 21 seconds remaining.

But that was too much time for Brady, the NFL’s best late-in-the-game quarterback, and Vinatieri, its best clutch kicker.

“Our coaches always get us in situations where we can make plays,” said David Givens, who had nine catches for 130 yards. “There always seems to be time for us to come back.”

Brady completed his last 12 passes and finished 31 for 41 for 372 yards, and Corey Dillon scored twice on short runs to help end Pittsburgh’s regular-season winning streak at 16 games. Dillon’s seven-yard run early in the fourth quarter made it 17-13 -- New England’s first lead since going ahead, 7-0, on Dillon’s four-yard run on its first possession.

The Patriots (2-1) all but took away Pittsburgh’s running game -- Willie Parker, coming off consecutive 100-yard games, was held to 55 yards -- and forced Roethlisberger to try to beat them.

The Steelers (2-1) didn’t help themselves early in the second quarter. Antwaan Randle El tried pitching the ball to Hines Ward as he was about to be tackled on a 49-yard gain to the New England 11. Ward couldn’t handle Randle El’s toss, and the ball was recovered by the Patriots.

“It was a bonehead play,” Randle El said. “The team rule is, if you’re going to try that play, you’d better make it.”

Roethlisberger, who hasn’t lost to any other team in 18 NFL starts, was 12 for 28 for 216 yards in his first loss in 16 regular-season starts.

Already without three injured cornerbacks, including starter Tyrone Poole, the Patriots lost backup cornerback Duane Starks on the Steelers’ first play from scrimmage, but he returned later. Then, after an 85-yard touchdown reception by Hines, safety Rodney Harrison and left tackle Matt Light left because of leg injuries.

Harrison was driven to the team bus on a cart, and Light had a cast on his right leg.