Patched Into Gillette For Patriots vs. Steelers

Over the last decade, the New England Patriots have had the Steelers number. If you ask any NFL player or coach, one team having the other teams' "number" means nothing. "Any Given Sunday" wasn't just a clever way to describe the unpredictability of the NFL, it's a near fact.

The Patriots and Steelers head into Sunday's game boasting the best records in the AFC, at (5-1) and (5-2) respectively.  With the halfway point of the season approaching, it's a chance for the Patriots to create some distance between themselves and the other AFC teams; more importantly the teams in the AFC East.

Head coach Bill Belichick spoke about the match-up this coming Sunday against the Steelers.

"Ok it feels like we're back in the division again. Um, you know the Steelers had a lot of chances to look at them here over the last few days. Got a jump on them last week and they look good as usual. Well-coached, good in all three phases of the game, real explosive team, can score from literally anywhere on the field," said Belichick. "On defense with their strip sacks and turnovers, and offensively and in the kicking game with their explosive skill players. They've had big plays in the return game. They're a solid team, well-coached, good players and you know it's always a tough team to play."

Coach Belichick spoke on how Kevin Faulk was doing since returning from the PUP list and the anticipation of him possibly returning to action on the field this Sunday against Pittsburgh.

"He's doing alright. Been on the field for a couple of days so it's good to see him back out there.  As much as you can train or do things in the weight room and run around the track and all that's great but it's not playing football.  It's really no substitute for playing football, getting the other 21 players out there and you know working in that environment. And so it's good that he's had the opportunity to do that. You know we'll just take it day by day here and see how it goes."

Tom Brady took the podium and was asked what it's like to be in the same system offensively for so long and the comfort factor that comes along with it.

"Well, it's been very important for me to never really change offenses or change terminology and I think we've just built on that over the years. You know things that I learned 12 years ago when I came here, so there's certain plays in our offense that I've literally run thousands of times and you make a lot of mistakes over the course of those plays and you learn from them and hope you don't make them again."

Speaking about the Steelers infamous defense, Brady said, "these guys make it tough on you. They're very physical. They cover well. They have continuity in their defense.

"If you watch the Super Bowl from last year, they get after the quarterback. They really do. And you know that's the hallmark of this defense.  They rush the passer, they stop the run. They're a big physical defense that plays very hard and is very well coached."

Brady and the New England Patriots will travel to Pittsburgh this Sunday to take on the Steelers in a battle of the two teams with the best AFC records.  If the Patriots win they will begin to separate themselves from the pack in a very unpredictable 2011 season.

Kick off for Sunday's game is 4:15pm on CBS.  Check back right here after the game for a complete report and every week for "Patched Into Gillette" on Patch.