TEAM TALK
- Bryan Morry takes a look at the Patriots-Steelers rivalry, as it heats up again this week.
- Don Banks Snap Judgments: NFL Divisional Round Playoffs.
- Erik Scalavino breaks down the film from Pats-Texans and shares some quarter-by-quarter observations.
- Angelique Fiske tells us how the Patriots street team hit Boston last week to get the city into the playoff spirit.
- Angelique Fiske notes Celtics' Isaiah Thomas put his brand new Tom Brady jersey into use Saturday night.
- Conference Call Transcripts: Bill Belichick - Josh McDaniels - Matt Patricia.
- Patriots locker room celebration following the win over the Texans. (1.11 min. video)
- Marc Istook and Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Steelers vs. Patriots Championship Game Preview. (6.20 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mark Daniels makes the case that the Steelers pose the toughest test yet for the Patriots.
- Michael Hurley finds Tom Brady's statistics against the Steelers are ridiculous.
- Matt Burke points out that statistically and remarkably, the Patriots have not faced a top 10 quarterback this season.
- Mike Reiss says the Patriots impressive defense will face its toughest competition on Sunday, with a chance to bury the "yeah, but" tag.
- Jeff Howe says the Pittsburgh offense truly runs through Le’Veon Bell, and that's where the Patriots' true concern this week will be.
- Christopher Price not only looks past the Steelers, but also the Falcons to what everyone wants: A Tom Brady-Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl.
- Ben Volin reviews the film and takes a look at the key plays from Saturday's win over the Texans.
- Christopher L. Gasper believes the "legitimacy" debate about the Patriots will end this week, after they face a top-of-the-league offense.
- Ben Volin tells the Patriots they shouldn't just be worried about their defense, they should also be worried about how Houston exposed their offense.
- Chad Finn calls the debate over: Bill Belichick is the greatest NFL coach ever. /Terrific read.
- Ryan Hannable believes Josh McDaniels made the right decision not to leave New England, and wonders if this means he'll succeed Bill Belichick.
- Matt Pepin notes Tom Brady seems to be okay if Roger Goodell attends Sunday's game. "He can go wherever he wants."
- Steve Buckley seems a tad too concerned with whether or not Roger Goodell shows up at Gillette Stadium for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
- Adam Kurkjian Patriots Notebook: Steelers talk gets little attention from Pats.
- Levan Reid hands out his Gold Stars and Penalty Flags from New England's 34-16 Divisional Round win.
- Ryan Hannable highlights Dont'a Hightower on WEEI, as he responds to Mike Tomlin calling Patriots A-holes: "I don't care. Is that supposed to hurt my feelings?"
- Staff (FootballNation) Hey Patriots, this young fan needs just 'One More!' (2.47 min. video)
- Ron Borges issues his Patriots Report Card: Divisional Round. Brady gets a D+. /Nobody puts Brady in a corner... except you.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Who will Bill Belichick try to take away from Steelers offense?
- Greg A. Bedard (SI) NFL Divisional Blanket: Taking a first look at NFC, AFC championship matchups.
- Staff (FootballNation) AFC Championship Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots by the numbers.
- Danny Kelly (The Ringer) Offense wins championships: There are no great defenses left in the playoffs. In fact, there are barely any good ones.
- Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Who has edge among Patriots, Steelers, Packers and Falcons when you subtract QB?
- Cameron DaSilva (Fox Sports) 7 things that have changed since the Patriots beat the Steelers in Week 7.
- Judy Battista (NFL.com) NFL final four: Championship Sunday offers two enticing bouts.
- Staff (ESPN Stats & Info) Ranking the divisional-round QB performances from 1 to 8. Brady 5th.
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Monday Musings: NFL's final four is a quarterback lover's dream come true.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady is an Aaron Rodgers fanboy.
- Sam Monson (Pro Football Focus) Biggest liability for every remaining playoff team. Patriots: Inability to create pass-rush pressure.
- Robert Mays (The Ringer) NFL Divisional Weekend Recap: Aaron Rodgers is on the brink of the Pantheon. /A few interesting points on Pats-Texans.
- Around the NFL (NFL.com) Twelve things we learned from Divisional Round.
- Brad Gagnon (The Comeback) This weekend in NFL stupid, feat. Andy Reid and Alex Smith.
- Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) Here's why the NFL should skip Sunday night playoff games.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) All signs point to Sunday night divisional-round game becoming the norm.
- Manish Mehta (NY Daily News) By breaking locker room code, Antonio Brown looks like an All-Pro Bonehead.
- Conor Orr (NFL.com) Earl Thomas complains about Patriots' playoff route. "Brady unsurprisingly took the high road."
- Amara Grautski (NY Daily News) Patriots QB Tom Brady showers his haters with love and sunshine, after Earl Thomas and Ray Lewis remarks.
- David Steele (Sporting News) Steelers vs. Patriots: Picks, predictions, odds for AFC championship game.
- John Breech (CBS Sports) AFC-NFC championship picks: Packers and Patriots will prevail in two tight games.
VIEW FROM PITTSBURGH
- Ray Fittipaldo (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Steelers-Patriots tale of the tape.
- Paul Zeise (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Mike Tomlin calling out the Patriots is great.
- Joe Starkey (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Patriots are Steelers' reward for ugly win. "So now it’s off to Bradyville, where the consensus seems to be that the Patriots played poorly in a 34-16 win over the Houston Texans. Must be nice to win by 18 and feel forced to list the regrets."
- Ron Cook (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Antonio Brown's postgame video not cause for alarm, criticism. /Good thing you cleared that up.
- Ed Bouchette (Pittsburgh Post-Gazettte) Antonio Brown video adds fuel to the fire of Steelers-Patriots AFC title game.
DUMPSTER DIVE
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Richard Sherman had knee injury, Seahawks didn’t report it.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Pete Carroll admits to injury-reporting violation.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL declines comment on Seahawks’ failure to disclose Richard Sherman injury.
- Ben Munson (FierceCable) NFL is the latest target of OpenTV patent suit.