September 10, 2002

PATRIOTS OPEN TITLE DEFENSE WITH MONDAY NIGHT WIN

The New England Patriots began defense of their Super Bowl XXXVI title Monday night with a 30-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at New England’s new Gillette Stadium. 

The Patriots’ reigning Super Bowl MVP QB TOM BRADY came out firing, at one point throwing 25 consecutive times during a stretch of the second and third quarters.  Brady completed 29 of 43 passes for 294 yards on the night including 3 touchdowns, all thrown to different wide receivers, none of whom were on last year’s team.

Pittsburgh QB KORDELL STEWART threw for 242 yards and a touchdown, but the Patriots defense intercepted him three times, twice by CB TERRELL BUCKLEY, and collected 5 sacks.

The game was a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship game in Pittsburgh, where the Patriots topped the Steelers 24-17.