That was my favorite Patriots game of all-time outside of SB49 and SB51. And that pass is definitely top 3 for me, personally. Such a ****y bunch with their arrogant fans waving “terrible towels” and big tough trash talk. Joey Porter, a young, ultra arrogant and ****y Big Ben. After getting waxed there early in the season, that game was just so incredible. The Steelers ran their mouths all week before and after the regular season game and the week leading me up to the rematch. They couldn’t even appreciate the Patriots 21 game winning streak they snapped and took the low road. Their fans all called Brady soft and the team acted like they had already won the game before it started.
That pass to Branch was the probably the greatest middle finger moment ever...the stadium essentially died collectively in that moment. The game was just so wonderful because all you heard about was how tough, physical, and menacing the Steelers were, and the Patriots just humiliated them and beat the crap out of them. I hate the Steelers for many reasons, but none more so than their 2004 squad.
I loved the Chiefs game last year because similarly it felt most satisfying winning on the road in a hostile stadium, but it still didn’t measure up to that 2004 AFCCG.