TEAM TALK
- Patriots - Steelers Thursday Injury Report.
- Erik Scalavino shares the news, notes and locker-room buzz from Thursday at Gillette: Patriots respect Big Ben.
- Paul Perillo Scouting the matchup: Containing Bell the key.
- Angelique Fiske reports Tom Brady earns a spot on "Sports Illustrated" for the 20th time.
- Don Banks: Drew Bledsoe recalls his last shining moment with the Patriots in the 2001 AFC title game.
- Press Conference Transcripts: Julian Edelman - Patrick Chung - Dave Andrews.
- What They're Saying: Pittsburgh Steelers.
LOCAL LINKS
- Ron Borges lays out exactly why, despite all the talk, this has not been an easy ride for the Patriots this season. /Excellent read.
- Mike Petraglia breaks down exactly how the Patriots are perfectly-suited to contain the Steelers explosive weapons.
- Karen Guregian looks at how the Pats and Steelers stack up at each position.
- The Herald staff thinks home field advantage is the main reason to give the Pats the edge.
- Russell Easterbrooks (FootballNation) AFC Championship breakdown: Patriots host Steelers at Gillette Stadium.
- Ryan Hannable sees the Patriots with a clear health advantage over the Steelers heading into Sunday.
- Rich Thompson sees Julian Edelman in record-breaking mode this postseason.
- Rich Thompson notes Julian Edelman won't discuss his postseason accolades, but he does make an appeal for the home town fans to be heard against the Steelers.
- Mark Daniels notes Martellus Bennett usually travels to Seattle this time of year to watch his brother in the playoffs, but this year it's the other way around.
- Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) QB play, balance, why Patriots-Steelers find success.
- Bob George (PatsFans) Conference championships are quarterback Nirvana.
- Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Tom Brady quotes tennis book in preparation for AFC Championship game.
- DJ Bean says this may not be a legacy game for the Patriots, but it is for the Steelers.
- Mike Reiss tells us about the special decorations in LeGarrette Blount's locker, courtesy of his 7-year-old son.
- Mark Daniels talks about the defense that is carrying a giant chip on their shoulder to the AFC Championship. /Thanks Felger & Mazz.
- Jeff Howe gives us a look at the extra work Logan Ryan puts in (like catching 100 passes every day on the Jugs machine) and how it has been paying off.
- Tom E. Curran talks up the importance of tackling if the Pats want to get to Houston.
- Matt Dolloff notes Robert Kraft opened up on his desire to get revenge for DeflateGate - by winning another Super Bowl.
- Miguel Benzan (PatsFans) Looking at the New England Patriots 2017 free agents – UFAs.
- Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Alan Branch key cog in stopping Le’Veon Bell and the Steelers running game Sunday.
- Doug Kyed Patriots Mailbag: Defense can officially shut up critics vs. Steelers.
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Bennett, Hogan, Mitchell limited ahead of AFC title game.
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Martellus Bennett has hilarious response for question about Tom Brady.
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) NFL Network leaves Tom Brady out of championship round teaser.
- CSNNE guest Brad Stevens talks with Brian Scalabrine on what he has learned about coaching from Bill Belichick. (2.53 min. video)
- Michael Hurley analyzes both championship matchups and makes his picks. Pats 31-27.
- Jim Lazar says the pressure is on, and makes his Championship Weekend picks. Pats 31-20.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Jeremy Fowler and Mike Reiss (ESPN) Steelers' run game could make difference against Patriots in AFC title game.
- Matt Chatham (Football by Football) Breakdown: Steelers red zone struggles vs. Patriots red zone strength. (2.58 min. video)
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Here are defensive keys to success for the Falcons, Packers, Steelers and Patriots.
- Chris Burke (SI) Analyzing the masterful offensive-line play of teams in NFL conference championships.
- Sam Monson (ProFootballFocus) How Pittsburgh’s O-line is driving the Steelers’ playoff push.
- Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports) Here are five reasons the Steelers can beat the Patriots in the AFC title game.
- Dieter Kurtenbach (Fox Sports) Ben Roethlisberger has become the weak link who could kill the Steelers’ Super Bowl dreams.
- Sam Monson (Pro Football Focus) Ranking the four conference title teams at every position group.
- Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Clutch coaching rankings: Barnwell stacks up the final four. 1st. Bill Belichick "the gold standard."
- Kevin Seifert (ESPN) Conference title games referee scouting report: From one extreme to the other. Terry McAulay called the league's 2nd-highest number of fouls per game.
- Kenneth Arthur (Rolling Stone) What we get wrong about Tom Brady: This season could end up being the crowning achievement in a legendary career that's still going strong.
- NFL Nation (ESPN) Patriots' Tom Brady wins AFC East offensive most valuable player.
- Kalyn Kahler (The MMQB) The chosen twin: Devin McCourty.
- Andre Vergara (Fox Sports) LeGarrette Blount and Le’Veon Bell still buds despite Blount quitting on Steelers.
- Report (AP) Now Blount is running, not running away.
- Conor Orr (NFL.com) New England Patriots standouts praise James Harrison.
- Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) Patriots' Martellus Bennett sounds off on Steelers, Antonio Brown.
- Dieter Kurtenbach (Fox Sports) Ben Roethlisberger has become the weak link who could kill the Steelers’ Super Bowl dreams.
- Michael Weinreb (The Ringer) Holy Tuck: An oral history of the Raiders-Patriots Tuck Rule Game. /You mean, 'Snow Bowl'.
- Greg A. Bedard (SI) Recent coaching hires stray from the NFL's winning formula.. Why Josh McDaniels didn't take a head coach job this year.
- Jimmy Traina (Awful Announcing) The worst of Phil Simms, the best of Twitter vs. Phil Simms from Saturday’s Texans-Patriots game.
- Staff (USA Today) NFL championship game picks. Four of five pick Pats to win.
VIEW FROM PITTSBURGH
- Ed Bouchette (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Old Brady to test Steelers rookie defenders.
- Joe Starkey (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) A Steelers win against the Patriots would be one for the ages.
- Jerry DiPaola (TribLive) Steelers' offense hasn't scored at rate Haley would like.
- Sean Gentille (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Ross Cockrell channels Bill Belichick, explains Steelers' growth on defense.
- Joe Rutter (TribLIve) Pressuring Brady is priority for Steelers defense.
- Kevin Gorman (TribLive) Steelers need best from Roethlisberger against Patriots.
- Ray Fittipaldo (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Antonio Brown has 'a lot of respect' for Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler.
- Elizabeth Bloom (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Governors bet pride, food for Steelers-Patriots matchup.
- Chris Adamski (TribLive) Steelers Notebook: Several players down with flu.
DUMPSTER DIVE
- Luke Kerr-Dineen (USA Today) An MIT professor is teaching high schoolers why Deflategate was a farce.
- Ken Belson and Ben Shpigel (NY Times) New England Patriots owner still sore at NFL, has payback in sight.
- Gary Myers (NY Daily News) Here’s why people can’t talk about Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots without cursing.