If the Steelers were the NFL’s best remaining chance to stifle New England’s run at a perfect season, the feat now appears to be more realistically within reach for the Pats. How did the league’s best offensive match up to the league’s best defense? Here’s a drive-by-drive recap:

1st Quarter:

Steelers strike, driving the most successful first-possession of any team in the league this year versus the Patriots… 26-yard FG… 3-0, Steelers

Pats’ transition game proves itself, again, as league best, countering with an opening-drive score of their own, Moss’ 18th of the season… 7-3, Pats

Steelers 2nd possession: Sack (loss of 9); On the ground, sets up 3rd and 16… Davenport, the Steelers’ 3rd-down back, back this week. End of First. 7-3, Pats

2nd Quarter:

Pittsburgh’s offense falls victim to a New England defensive stop. Ensuing punt, and subsequent 5-yard penalty to the Steelers, lands Pats’ offense at their own 36.
7-3, Pats

Immediate Pats touchdown pass, 63 yards, Brady to Moss, their 2nd in 2 minutes.. What’s the secondary doing? 10-second scoring drive. 14-3, Pats

Pittsburgh returns punt to the 22. Wille Parker gains 30 yards on the ground, 4 more in the air. 32-yard lollipop touchdown pass to Davenport. 5-play, 77-yard drive. 14-10, Pats

Pats return to their own 26… Three-and-out. 14-10, Pats.

Pats’ special teams recover ensuing punt. Possession to New England with great field position on Pittsburgh’s 34… Five of Pittsburgh’s last 6 offensive possessions have resulted in a turnover. Pats’ offense goes three-and-out. 48-yard field goal is wide to the right.
14-10, Pats.

Pittsburgh takeover possession at their own 38. Pittsburgh converts 4th-and-inches, Davenport delivering 2 yards (on the ground yet in the air) to get to midfield. Separate false-start and holding penalties by Pittsburgh. Rothleisberger scrambles to within 1 yard of a first down. Timeout Pittsburgh. 4th-and-inches attempt converted for the second time on drive…in the air, up the middle to the 36 yardline. Timeout Pittsburgh. 44-yard field goal attempt is converted by Jeff Reed. 14-13 Pats.

New England bobbles the kick, stranding themselves inside their own 20. Drive to the 37 by the 2-minute warning. Brady to Moss for substantial gain over midfield, followed by a 32-yard pass to Gaffney. Yardage gained is partially negated by a 10-yard penalty by the Pats’ offense.
42-yard field goal attempt is converted by Gostkowski. 17-13, Pats. End of the first half.

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3rd Quarter:

Pittsburgh return to the 29 but go three-and-out. 44-yard punt.

Pats’ ball on their own 11 yardline. Brady thows 21 yards to Moss, followed by a 9-yard pass to Stallworth. Jabbar Gaffney left wide open in the end zone, catching Brady’s 56-yard touchdown pass. Extra point converted. 24-13, Pats.

Rossum runs ball back for a substantial Pittsburgh gain, only to be offset by a Pittsburgh penalty. Pittsburgh then goes three-and-out, marking the seventh consecutive Pittsburgh failure at a 3rd-down conversion. 24-13, Pats.

Pats recover with good field position. 15th-straight completion drives the Pats into field-goal range. Pats attempt fourth-and-one conversion; Pats convert, in the air, to Welker. Inside the Red Zone. Pittsburgh commits a holding penalty, half the distance to the goal, First-and-goal, Pats. Injury Timeout, Pittsburgh. Brady throws, complete, to Welker for a touchdown. The pass is Brady’s 45th of the season for Brady, taking him over 4,000 passing yards. Extra point is converted. 31-13, Pats.

Short kick is recovered by the Steelers on their own 43. Parker drives the Pittsburgh offense to well within field-goal range, ending the 3rd quarter. 31-13, Pats.

4th Quarter:

Steelers attempt a Fourth-and-goal, Hines Ward stifled by the Pats’ defense just short of the goal line. 31-13, Pats.

Pats obtain possession on their own one. Let’s see if Pittsburgh’s defense really is the best in the league. Brady completes 5 consecutive passes to Welker for 64 yards. Time out, Pats. In the red zone, Moss can’t handle Brady’s bullet into the end zone. Pats settle for a 28-yard field goal. 34-13, Pats.

Steelers return kickoff to their own 22. Hines Ward reception, 13 yards on third and 10 for a first down. Parker catches for a first down, and follows it up on the ground, running for another first down on next play. Time out, Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh fails to execute, losing their possession on downs. 34-13, Pats

Pats recover on downs at their own 20 as the crowd directs chants of “MVP!” to Tom Brady and “Guarantee” to the Steelers. Pats’ go three-and-out, however. 34-13, Pats

Kick off and 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty sees the Steelers recover with good field position, but they run out of clock.

New England wins their 13th straight game, 34-13. It appears as if great offense beats great defense:Certainly when we’re talking about the 2007 Patriots.