Belichick ready to capture 3rd ring after downing Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- Bill Belichick is one victory away from the Vince Lombardi trophy -- and one of Lombardi's most impressive records, too.\nThe New England Patriots coach stymied the Steelers on Sunday night, guiding New England to a 41-27 victory over Pittsburgh to reach the Super Bowl for the third time in four years. A victory there and Belichick will hoist the trophy named for Lombardi while passing him for the best playoff coaching record in NFL history.\nA week after embarrassing NFL MVP Peyton Manning, the Patriots defense did the same with rookie of the year Ben Roethlisberger, jumping to an early lead on a frigid Pittsburgh night in a stadium full of Terrible Towel-waving fans.\nNew England picked Roethlisberger off three times -- the first on his very first pass of the game and the second for an 87-yard touchdown return by Rodney Harrison that gave New England a 24-3 lead. Eugene Wilson grabbed his second interception of the game when Roethlisberger overthrew his receiver with 7:29 remaining and the Steelers running out of chances.\nBelichick improved to 9-1 in the postseason over his career, and will pass Lombardi atop the NFL's all-time list with a victory over Philadelphia in the Super Bowl Feb. 6 in Jacksonville, Fla. Belichick has never lost a playoff game with a conference or NFL title on the line.\nUnder the guidance of Belichick and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who is expected to be hired as Cleveland's head coach after the Super Bowl, a depleted Patriots' defense held Roethlisberger to 224 yards passing. Jerome Bettis carried 17 times for 64 yards but was stopped on a first-quarter fourth-and-1 and a fourth-quarter third-and-goal from the 3 that forced the Steelers to settle for a field goal.\nIn last week's playoff game against Indianapolis, the Patriots held Manning without a touchdown -- or even a pass longer than 18 yards -- to beat the Colts 20-3. Roethlisberger, who had not lost as a starter coming into the game, struggled last week against the New York Jets with two interceptions. But Pittsburgh was still awash in signs praising him as he tried to become the first rookie quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl.\nThings didn't start well for Big Ben.\nOn the third play of the game, his pass went off Antwaan Randle El's hands, off each hand of Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel and into Wilson's. New England drove to the Pittsburgh 30 before Adam Vinatieri's field goal made it 3-0.\nSteelers coach Bill Cowher went for it on a fourth-and-1 from the Patriots 39 but Rosevelt Colvin forced Bettis to fumble and Mike Vrabel recovered it. On the next play, Tom Brady hit Deion Branch on a 60-yard touchdown pass -- the Patriots' longest pass play of the season -- to make it 10-0.\nNew England was playing without starting cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, who have been out most of the season, and lineman Richard Seymour, who has missed the last three games with a left knee injury.