AFC Championship Notebook

Bettis has disappointing return after seven weeks off

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Jerome Bettis waited eight weeks for this?

The Steelers' Pro Bowl running back, playing for the first time since Dec. 2 because of a groin injury, gained only 8 yards on nine carries in Pittsburgh's 24-17 AFC title game loss Sunday to New England.

Bettis was confident all week he could quickly get back into game shape. But he never got going and, clearly ineffective, was idled for part of the second and third quarters as Amos Zereoue replaced him.

It didn't help as the Steelers, who easily led the NFL in rushing, finished with a season-low 58 yards on 22 carries. Much of the yardage came on Kordell Stewart's 34-yard run in the first quarter.

"It's sickening," Bettis said. "We couldn't get it going. We had it taken it to us. It wasn't anything we hadn't seen from their defense, they just did a great job of shutting us down. From the first play to the last play, they made more plays and took it to us."

It isn't like Bettis hasn't been here before.

In the 1996 season, he tried to play against New England in the playoffs despite a groin injury, but was held to 43 yards as the Steelers lost 28-3. The Patriots also went on to the Super Bowl that season.

Patriots say Steelers didn't respect them

Just as the San Diego Chargers did in their AFC Championship Game upset of the Steelers seven years ago, the Patriots seized on a they-didn't-respect-us theme.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick noted that the Steelers held a Super Bowl travel meeting Monday -- something he refused to do, saying all the emphasis was on the AFC title game.

Head coach Bill Cowher defended the meeting, saying it was necessary because there wasn't an extra week off between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl.

"No, they didn't respect us at all," Troy Brown said. "Nobody respected us. They didn't expect us to come in here and play as well as we did in a hostile place like this."

Although Pittsburgh was a big favorite, the Steelers lost three of their last 11 games, while New England has won 10 of 11.

"I think the only way we are going to get any respect is to not just get to the Super Bowl, but to win it," safety Lawyer Milloy said. "It's going to be the same thing next week. I hate to think what the odds are going to be."

Costly special teams mistakes

Steelers kicker Kris Brown made a 30-yard field goal, but wrapped up an awful season by having a 34-yard field goal blocked by Brandon Mitchell and returned for the game's key touchdown.

Brown missed a league-high 14 field goals during the season, then had another miss last week against Baltimore.

Of the block, Brown said, "The most dreaded sound a kicker hears is that thud. I tried to tackle the guy who returned it [Troy Brown], but he lateralled it and they scored a touchdown. Nothing more needs to be said."

The Steelers' special teams were mistake-prone all season, and it is almost certain there will be changes, though head coach Bill Cowher didn't address assistant coach Jay Hayes' status.

"It was one thing after another this season," Cowher said.

Steelers safety Lee Flowers said, "We held them to 10 points -- and we lost. We held them to fewer than 250 yards -- and we lost?"

Big-game players

The Patriots are 3-0 in AFC title games, winning twice in the last five years. They also beat an AFC Central team, Jacksonville, in the 1996 season. Steelers right guard Rich Tylski also started for the Jaguars in that game.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who was in the locker room before Sunday's game, said, "There was an air of confidence and they believed they could win this game. It permeated everywhere."

Vote of confidence

Kraft has been especially close to Drew Bledsoe, who lost his job as the Patriots' starting quarterback not long after signing a $100 million contract extension

So, naturally, Kraft was elated when Bledsoe replaced the injured Tom Brady to lead the upset victory.

"We're lucky to be in a position to have two great quarterbacks," Kraft said. "What happened on the field showed it."

Notes: The Steelers made it to the AFC title game in their first season in Heinz Field. They also lost their first AFC Championship Game at Three Rivers Stadium -- to unbeaten Miami in 1972 -- but went on to win the next three, in the 1975, 1978 and 1979 seasons. ... The Steelers have hosted an AFC-record eight conference championship games since 1970, going 4-4. ... Until this season, the Steelers hadn't allowed a punt return touchdown in a playoff game since 1947, only to give up two in as many weeks. ... Two years ago, the Patriots were 5-11 and the Steelers were 6-10.

 

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