NFL playoffs bracket and schedule 2017: Patriots throttle the Steelers with a huge second half

The Patriots will face the Falcons in Super Bowl 51.

by Christian D'Andrea

Jan 23, 2017, 2:45 AM UTC

NFL: AFC Championship-Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

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The Patriots are going back to the Super Bowl for an NFL-record ninth time.

Tom Brady threw for 384 yards and three touchdowns, and Chris Hogan set a franchise postseason record with 180 receiving yards to carry New England to a 36-17 victory at Gillette Stadium. The win sets up a date with the Falcons in Super Bowl LI and will give the Patriots a chance for the fifth NFL title in franchise history.

New England struck first with a 31-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal before Chris Hogan’s big half sent the Patriots into the locker room with a 17-9 lead. Hogan slipped through the Pittsburgh secondary unattended to catch a 16-yard touchdown from Brady. One series later, the Patriots responded to a Steeler touchdown by getting creative. Brady’s flea flicker found Hogan open once more for his second trip to the end zone of the evening.

The Steelers lost Le’Veon Bell to a groin injury in the first quarter, but Ben Roethlisberger’s masterful play made sure he was not missed early on. The veteran completed 13 straight passes at one point to keep the Patriots from breaking away with the lead in the first half. He appeared to have hit tight end Jesse James for a touchdown that would have cut the home team’s lead to four points, but an overturned review and some stellar play from the New England defense forced it to turn tail and kick a short field goal instead.

But Roethlisberger was fighting against a flood, and the rising tide of New England’s momentum wouldn’t be stopped.

The Patriots forced a three-and-out on Pittsburgh’s first drive of the second half, then exploded. A Gostkowski field goal pushed their lead to two possessions, and another Steeler punt set up a 69-second stretch where New England dropped 14 straight points on its conference rival.

The deluge started when LeGarrette Blount turned a terrible game into a memorable one by dragging seven Steelers down to the goal line. He burst through to pay dirt the following play. One Eli Rogers fumble later, Julian Edelman’s 10-yard touchdown catch made the score 33-9 late in the third quarter and all but closed the door on the Steelers’ Super Bowl aspirations.

The Steelers never gave up, but a raucous home crowd never let them forget where they were, alternately cheering on the Pats and roasting NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Roethlisberger’s deep touchdown strike to Cobi Hamilton gave him more than 300 passing yards on the day, but it wasn’t enough to beat Brady and Belichick.