Wednesday 24 January 2018 18:30, UK
After another incredible season, the New England Patriots are just one game away from Super Bowl LI.
Both the Patriots and their opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are vying for their ninth Super Bowl appearance, which would be an NFL record.
Together, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have led New England to six of those eight, winning four. This weekend also marks Brady's sixth consecutive AFC Championship appearance, and the 11th of his career.
However, the Patriots looked shaky in their Divisional Round victory over the Houston Texans. Brady threw two interceptions and the Texans defence looked dominant for stretches of the game. Now New England host six-time Super Bowl champions Steelers, who are on a nine-game winning streak.
Brady's bunch will have to be at the very top of their game on Sunday, but they have the weapons to do it. Sky Sports takes a look at where the Patriots can dominate to come out on top.
Even at 39, Brady's ability to make plays shows no signs of fatigue. The 16-year veteran has more play-off appearances than 27 NFL franchises and is on a mission for his fifth Super Bowl ring.
It almost helps that he's coming off the worst performance of the season. It doesn't allow for complacency, and gives Brady a rejuvenated focus.
This game is a battle between two great quarterbacks, but Brady's last two play-off appearances don't reflect that. Four picks and under 50 per cent in pass completion. This has to be 'Tom Terrific's' best game of the season, otherwise he will find himself outmatched.
The Patriots are the stingiest team in the NFL, bar none. Having conceded an average of under 16 points throughout the regular season, the defence also added play-making ability in the latter stages, registering 14 turnovers in the last six games.
A caveat to this stat is the quality of QB New England have faced. Throughout the entire season, the Patriots only came up against four play-off teams (Miami twice). Russell Wilson aside, the standard of quarterback play should be considered.
Pittsburgh have arguably the best running back and wide receiver in the league, as well as an elite level quarterback leading the team, and this will be by far the toughest test New England's defence has faced. Ben Roethlisberger missed the Patriots' 27-16 regular season win, but is now back and has been a catalyst in turning the Steelers' season around.
With all that said, Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has no injury concerns and a unit high on confidence. If he can get this one right, and stop the Steelers from turning the game into a shoot-out, New England will be rolling into Texas, sure that they can match up against the best in the NFC.
It has been a tough road to recovery for Dion Lewis. In 2015, a knee injury ended his season prematurely, and complications with the rehabilitation kept him out until week 11 of this year.
However, Lewis has been a great addition, particularly after the team lost tight end Rob Gronkowski. Last weekend, Lewis set two NFL records on the way to a three-touchdown night against the Texans. Running back talk will focus on the ability of Steelers star Le'Veon Bell, but Pittsburgh gave up 15 TDs to running backs in the regular season (T-18th), and Lewis will look to take advantage of any holes.
In his second year with the team, Lewis is yet to lose a game. Cut by the Cleveland Browns and released by the Indianapolis Colts without ever playing a game for either, the Patriots have unearthed a weapon.
The Steelers defence have sacked the quarterback 31 times in their nine-game winning run, and six of those have come in the last two play-off games. This unit is in form and difficult to stop.
Brady is at his best when he has time in the pocket, and allowed to stay on his spot until the perfect opportunity comes along. If the QB is to win this game for the Patriots, he will need a big game from his offensive line.
New England's front seven have been stellar this season, but last week struggled to stop Houston's powerful pass-rush. Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus won the battle, forcing Brady into mistakes.
This weekend, outside linebacker Bud Dupree will be the big threat, and they must be able to withstand that pressure.
Since taking over the Patriots 17 years ago, Belichick has double-digit winning seasons in all but two. He hasn't had a losing year since his first, back in 2000, and has since bred a culture of discipline and diligence, with every player either buying in to the 'Patriots way' or else finding a new home.
Belichick's coaching style is fluid; he looks to cut off the opposition strength, rather than simply playing to his own. On Sunday against the Texans, this meant affording Brock Osweiler time to pass the ball, but forcing him to throw long. Under the pressure, the Texans QB threw three second half picks, and New England capitalised.
The Patriots' no-nonsense approach is embodied in Belichick. He refused to be drawn on Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's insults of the organisation, broadcast live on social media by Antonio Brown. He preaches the mantra "do your job". His role is to shield his players from the media, and pick the plays that will undo the next opponent. He's been doing it for 16 years, what's not to trust?
Sky Sports is your home of NFL. Watch both Championship match-ups live on Sky Sports 1, on Sunday January 22, from 7:40pm.
