Steelers again fall to Patriots

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Tom Brady remains the same. It's just the supporting cast that's changed for the New England Patriots.

Brady led New England to a 30-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, passing for 294 yards and touchdowns to Christian Fauria, Donald Hayes and Deion Branch, none of whom were with the Patriots last season during their surprising run to the Super Bowl.

It was a huge start to the season for the Patriots against the team they upset 24-17 on the road in the AFC championship game last season. Pittsburgh entered as both a favorite to win the conference title and as a 3-point favorite on the road against the defending champions.

But Brady, an obscure backup who ended up as Super Bowl MVP after taking over in the second game for an injured Drew Bledsoe, demonstrated that rather than a fluke, he belongs among the game's elite quarterbacks.

Throwing 25 straight times during the second and third quarters, he broke open a 10-7 game with two TD passes in the first half of a 17-point third quarter. One went for 40 yards to Hayes, a free-agent signing, and the second to Branch, the Patriots' second-round draft choice.

Trailing 30-7, Pittsburgh got a consolation touchdown on the game's final play when Kordell Stewart went in from 1 yard.

New England's defense also was sparked by newcomers.

Veteran cornerback Terrell Buckley, signed just last week, had two of the three New England interceptions, and Victor Green, one of the many ex-New York Jets on the Pats, forced and then recovered a fumble by Jerome Bettis that set up a TD. It was the first fumble by Bettis in 760 carries.

Other than Brady, who completed 29 of 43 passes, the only Patriots hero from last season to contribute to the scoring was Adam Vinatieri, who kicked the 48-yard field goal that won the Super Bowl. He had field goals of 45, 28 and 27 yards.

The first half was tight.

Mike Vrabel's interception of Stewart at the Pittsburgh 26 that led to Brady's 4-yard TD pass to Fauria, signed as a free agent from Seattle.