In a match-up of NFL royalty, the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday’s AFC title clash with the winner earning a record ninth trip to the Super Bowl.
Both teams have been on a tear, with the Patriots riding an eight-game winning streak, while the Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have claimed nine straight.
“It’s a big challenge for us,” Brady told reporters. “We have to play our best game of the year.”
During the regular season the well-balanced Patriots ranked third in the NFL in points scored (27.6 per game), led all teams in allowing 15.6 points per game and are a six-point favorite for Sunday’s game.
Pittsburgh ranked 10th in both categories but have gelled in the second half of the season and boast an extraordinary triple threat on offense in Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown.
A harsh tone for the clash was struck immediately after Pittsburgh beat the Chiefs in last week’s playoff game in Kansas City when Brown posted a video of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s clubhouse speech online.