New England's incredible run through the 2001 season will take to the road next weekend when the Patriots travel to Pittsburgh to take on the No. 1 seed from the AFC.
After rallying to a 16-13 overtime victory over Oakland Saturday, the Patriots watched the Steelers dismantle the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens 27-10 Sunday afternoon. Amos Zereoue ran for two touchdowns and Plaxico Burress caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Kordell Stewart to help Pittsburgh win the game easily.
The Steelers ran for more than 150 yards against Baltimore's defense despite not having Jerome Bettis for the game. Bettis, who hasn't played in seven weeks because of a groin injury, received a painkilling shot for his groin prior to the game, but it was injected into a nerve. The Steelers said the shot caused numbing in Bettis' leg.
Pittsburgh also lost linebacker Earl Holmes during the game because of a left knee injury.
New England has met the Steelers twice before in the postseason, with the home team winning both games. The last meeting was a 7-6 AFC Divisional victory for Pittsburgh in which Stewart scored the game's only touchdown on a 40-yard scramble.
The Patriots beat Pittsburgh 28-3 en route to the Super Bowl in 1996 on the strength of 166 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Curtis Martin.
