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stillers4me
11-12-2010, 05:12 AM
A decade of hits

By Ian R. Rapoport
Friday, November 12, 2010

FOXBORO - There are a few truths that remain perpetually consistent.

The Steelers are tough and physical. The Patriots (http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots.bg) [team stats (http://scores.heraldinteractive.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=bostonherald&page=nfl/teams/077/team.aspx?id=077)] are sound and savvy. And, more often than not, they are two of the NFL’s finest.

It was that way through the last decade. Eight games into this decade, little has changed.

When the Patriots visit Heinz Field on Sunday night, it will be another star-studded, eagerly anticipated showdown between two 6-2 teams with the highest of hopes. What else is new?

“The games have all been good,” said Patriots linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (http://news.bostonherald.com/search/?topic=Tully+Banta+Cain&searchSite=recent) [stats (http://scores.heraldinteractive.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=bostonherald&page=nfl/teams/077/playeraaa.aspx?id=3610,team=077)]. “It’s always a heated, competitive battle, so I’m sure this one will be, too.”

The Patriots have rivals, among them the Jets and the Colts, but the black-and-gold clad opponent has been a key player in two of the franchise’s most memorable victories - the 2001 and 2004 AFC title games.

While proclaiming the Patriots the team of the last decade, ex-Steelers coach Bill Cowher told the Herald in 2009, “I feel like I’ve added to their legacy losing to them in their championship games.”

Perhaps. But the Steelers won two rings themselves. This is the first battle of the next decade, one that could determine home-field advantage in the playoffs if both teams continue to win.

“We recognize the potential playoff ramifications of it,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said...................

Read more: http://bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1295797&position=1