Patriots stun Steelers

Pittsburgh's Hines Ward hands off New England's Ty Law

Drew Bledsoe ensured the New England Patriots would not miss starting quarterback Tom Brady as he led the Patriots to a shock 24-17 win away to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bledsoe lost his starting position to Brady on 23 September when he injured his chest in the second match of the season.

But when Brady limped out of the game with an injured left leg late in the first half, Bledsoe seized his chance to guide the Patriots to the AFC Championship, and their third Super Bowl next Sunday.

Bledsoe got plenty of help from Troy Brown, who returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown.

David Patten enjoys his second-quarter touchdown

Brown then played a major role on the 60-yard return of a blocked field goal that put New England 21-3 up early in the third quarter.

"They can call us Cinderella. They can call us Destiny's Team," said Brown after the match.

"They can call us anything they want, but we're going to the Super Bowl and they're not.

"We proved we're good enough by winning in hostile territory."

Bledsoe threw 11 yards to David Patten for a touchdown shortly after Brady injured his left leg, before putting the Patriots in position for Adam Vinatieri's fourth-quarter field goal.

He also allowed New England to hold the ball enough to avoid constant pressure late in the game.

Three interceptions

Bledsoe completed 10 out of 21 passes for 102 yards as the Patriots' veteran defencemen Willie McGinest and Ted Johnson shut down Pittsburgh's running game.

Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, back after eight weeks out with a groin injury, carried nine times for just eight yards, forcing quarterback Kordell Stewart to try to carry the team.

Stewart completed 24 out of 42 passes for 255 yards but also threw three interceptions.

Two of them came in the last three minutes as Tebucky Jones and Lawyer Milloy picked off passes to help seal the Patriots' victory.