New England Patriots: Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Mitchell guarantees win over Patriots
By Brian Hines
The New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15, but Steelers safety Mike Mitchell guarantees a playoff matchup would go differently.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are surely focused on playing and beating, the New England Patriots. In a recent story by Sports Illustrated focusing on the injured Steelers’ linebacker, Ryan Shazier, safety Mike Mitchell guaranteed a Pittsburgh victory over the Patriots.
"“We’re going to play [the Patriots] again,” said Mitchell. “We can play them in hell, we can play them in Haiti, we can play them in New England. … We’re gonna win.”"
A rematch of last years AFC Championship Game is certainly a possibility, but both teams still have a game to win. While many are already penciling in New England to beat the Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh faces a Jacksonville Jaguars team that beat them 30-9 in Week 5.
Jacksonville picked off Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger five times, returning two for touchdowns. Perhaps Mitchell forgets how badly Pittsburgh played that game, as Jacksonville had Roethlisberger second guessing his ability.
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"“Maybe I don’t have it anymore,” Roethlisberger told reporters."
Even though the Steelers haven’t beaten New England in recent years, the Week 15 matchup between the two certainly gave Pittsburgh hope. The Steelers were a drop at the goal line away from most likely winning, and a fluky interception away from at least sending the game into overtime.
They also played a majority of the game without Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown.
However, if the teams did meet in the AFC Championship Game, the rematch would take place in Foxboro. The Steelers haven’t had much success in Gillette Stadium in recent years. The Steelers lost the 2016 AFC Championship Game, Week 1 of the 2015 season along with a November loss in 2013.
Pittsburgh only has one career win in Foxboro against a Bill Belichick-coached Patriots (2008 against Matt Cassel). They are 0-5 against Brady in Gillette Stadium.
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The Patriots will have nothing to do with these comments, as their focus is currently all on the Tennessee Titans. Perhaps Mitchell and company should turn their focus to the Jaguars until after Sunday’s game.