Entering Sunday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the rivals squared off with the winner seeking the AFC’s number one seed and home field advantage for the playoffs with three games to go in the season. Tom Brady came into the game seeking to continue his dominance over the Steel City sporting a 7-2 regular season record.
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Tom Brady was booed as he ran toward midfield for pregame warmups, so he waved back at the crowd to tell them to get louder.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) December 17, 2017
VIDEO: Pregame @heinzfield #TomBrady runs on field @boston25 @bos25sports #patriots vs #steelers @TomLeyden @chad_amaral pic.twitter.com/gLQzwF7I5c
— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) December 17, 2017
Brady getting mixed boos and cheers as he comes on the field. He loves it all. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/53lRswMcyS
— Ruthie Polinsky (@ruthiepolinsky) December 17, 2017
Ryan Shazier in the house pic.twitter.com/CnnsWNxcPX
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/steelers/status/942510649636110336
Let fireworks begin! I got my popcorn!
— Troy Brown (@RealTroyBrown80) December 17, 2017
In the first quarter, the Patriots struck first, with Brandin Cooks immediately rebounding from last weeks struggles as he hauled in a 43 yard deep ball from Tom Brady which help setup the games first touchdown. Running back Rex Burkhead would bang it in from the goal line for an early 7-0 lead.
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The Steelers dynamic offense wasted no time and quickly responded to tie the game at 7 when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger found Eli Rogers on this 18 yard touchdown strike.
7????1??7?? to get things started.
PIT 7 | NE 7#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/H23jtrLmIm
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 17, 2017
In the second quarter, both teams traded field goals to knot the score at 10, but Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant and Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski provided some highlights leading to the scores.
https://twitter.com/steelers/status/942515740527116288
Gronk signaled for a first down while on his back and I can’t stop laughing pic.twitter.com/oVH6iz32B5
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 17, 2017
With the clock winding down on the first half, the Steelers found the end zone for a second time when Roethlisberger found Bryant and the Patriots headed to the locker room trailing, but only by 7 at 17-10.
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The Patriots got the ball to open the second half, and in what would be a recurrence all night long, Gronkowski continued to haul in big yardage.
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The reception would lead to Brady’s first touchdown pass of the game, but a Stephen Gostkowski extra point was missed, and the Patriots had to settle trailing by one at 17-16.
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Like in the first quarter, the Steelers again responded as another member of the “Killer B’s” found the end zone when Le’veon Bell ran the ball in from the three, 24-16 Steelers after three quarters.
.@L_Bell26 is the first player in #SteelersHistory to record consecutive seasons with at least 1,800 yards from scrimmage.#TDTuesday pic.twitter.com/QMH1lkzNJX
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 19, 2017
In the fourth quarter, the Patriots defense began to tighten up for the first time all game despite third down struggles, and Tom Brady drove the Patriots into field goal range for Gostkowski to cut the deficit to five at 24-19.
With two minutes to go in the game, the Patriots were given one more opportunity to retake the lead following a big third down stop. Brady and Gronkowski went to work.
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Gronk is a bad mofo
— Vince Wilfork (@wilfork75) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/zeus30hightower/status/942547720677543937
This is the best game all year. Two of the best teams goin at it. Now, this is football
— Vince Wilfork (@wilfork75) December 18, 2017
Courtesy of three big receptions for 69 yards, Gronkowski helped setup the go ahead score, an eight yard run by the former Pitt Panther Dion Lewis. 27-24 Patriots.
Rob Gronkowski on that drive: 69 yards. Best moment of his life.
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) December 18, 2017
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After the #Patriots’ 2-pt conversion, @RobGronkowski started celebrating for the camera.
Tom Brady rushed over and yelled, “Hey…Hey! Ain’t over!”
Tom was right. The #Steelers almost made Gronk look silly. pic.twitter.com/n9js4toNTn
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) December 18, 2017
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The clock had just under a minute for Big Ben to try and rally, and his rookie wideout Juju Smith-Schuster provided instant life on an incredible 69 yard catch and run.
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The play setup what appeared to be tight end Jesse James game winning touchdown, but the play was reviewed and ruled not a catch by the officals.
https://twitter.com/kg_holler/status/942549043066138625
The video is an explanation from @NFL SVP of Officiating Al Riveron on the reversal at the end of the #NEvsPIT game. pic.twitter.com/hm5EeoZTER
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) December 18, 2017
Forget the lunge. He's going to the ground and the ball hits the ground.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 18, 2017
Look, here is the rule. If you’re going to the ground you have to hold onto the ball when the ball hits the ground…Going to the ground trumps lunging/reaching to try and get extra yards or score a TD. You do that at your own risk. It’s incomplete…just ask Dez
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 18, 2017
People are saying a runner breaking the plane causes the ball to become dead…which is true. BUT the receiver does not become a runner until he completes the process of the catch. TOTALLY DIFFERENT
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 18, 2017
Despite the controversy that ensued the Steelers still had time for another play despite no timeouts, but instead of spiking the ball to setup a game tying field goal, Roethlisberger gambled with a pass, and the result was Duron “The Closer” Harmon.
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An incredible goal line stand that brought back memories of Super Bowl XLIX, and the Patriots survived and won in Pittsburgh yet again while taking over the number 1 seed in the AFC and another division title.
A 27-24 final in a thriller and just two divisional games at home remain where the Patriots control their destiny for playoff positioning.
When you realize the weekend is almost over … pic.twitter.com/rtAprotJnr
— Will D. (@WAD1980) December 18, 2017
(.gifs h/t reddit and u/timnog)
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Getty photographer Justin Berl capturing what I consider to be an iconic photograph of Tom Brady leaving the field in Pittsburgh. This man enjoys playing sports for a living. pic.twitter.com/NF6F1qfqw4
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) December 18, 2017
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.@RobGronkowski joins Tony Gonzalez & Jason Witten as the only tight ends in NFL history with four 1,000-yard receiving seasons. #GoPats pic.twitter.com/kKaALDLQ9g
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/danielrainge/status/942772339439226880
Patriots now have won the AFC East division title, marking the ninth consecutive division title for New England (2009-17), the longest streak in NFL history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 18, 2017
Preview of AFC championship. What a game
— Vince Wilfork (@wilfork75) December 18, 2017
I love my damn team!!! #gopats #defensewinschampionships
— Dont'a Hightower (@zeus30hightower) December 18, 2017
There goes the G.O.A.T. with another win in Pittsburgh!
— Troy Brown (@RealTroyBrown80) December 18, 2017
That’s was a great football game, the 2 teams have a lot respect for each other even with all the @&$% talking going on..
— Andre Tippett (@AndreTippett) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/rayclayborn26/status/942550340095889408
That’s one heck of a win for @Patriots #gopats #PITvsNE
— Sebastian Vollmer (@SebVollmer) December 18, 2017
.@Patriots YES!!!!!! #doyourjob #findaway #gopats #AFCEASTCHAMPS #patriots
— Lawyer Milloy (@LawyerMilloy) December 18, 2017
Someone whipped a bottle or something at the Patriots as they left the field, prompting this "what the hell, man?" look from David Andrews. pic.twitter.com/JQGDVutNaG
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) December 18, 2017
Brandin Cooks puts on his AFC East championship hat, looks four lockers over and says to Tom Brady, “TB, this is a little different right here!” To which Brady says, “It looks good.”
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 18, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc2OQTbnPpL/?taken-by=lindaholliday_
A postgame shoutout from The Closer, @dharm32. #NotDone pic.twitter.com/YvbPevapfP
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 18, 2017
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2??0??1??7?? AFC East Champions! #patsnation #Patriots #HoldDownTheEast @ Heinz Field https://t.co/S8aOvwAk91
— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/hollister_jacob/status/942574882545721344
Just keep fighting #NextPlay pic.twitter.com/21BygNLWp6
— Eric Rowe (@TheEricRowe) December 18, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc0z4V0g0h8/
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