BLOG: "Ships Don't Sink Because Water's Around Them"

If there was one thing that was evident by the Patriots miraculous win over the Steelers, it's Tom
Brady's poise, and ability to do his job despite what's happening around him.

"Ship's don't sink because water's around them, they sink because water gets in them." Don't let what's happening around you affect your job. That's difference because Tom Brady and every other quarterback in the NFL, right now.

It didn't matter that the defense gave up 360 all-purpose yards, or they gave up 69-yards at the end that kept the Steelers in it. Brady has zero control over the offense. The only thing he has control over is the himself, and the Patriots offense. His second quarter interception into the waiting hands of Vaughn Williams was a mistake, and he knew it. But Brady didn't let it affect him. It was like the water around the ship.

Fast-forward to the end of the game when the Steelers were sitting on the Patriots' 10-yard line looking to put the nail in the coffin, crushing another euphoric comeback by the Pats. After an official replay overturned a game-winning, touchdown catch by Jesse James, citing the Pittsburgh tight end never had control bringing the ball to the round, the electric air at Heinz field that was once there, was gone.

Roethlisberger made a quick three-yard out to Darrius Heyward-Bay on second down, inching closer to the end zone, but time was also draining off the clock. Without a timeout and only five seconds remaining, Roethlisberger went for the fake spike, a trick that would work against the Raiders, or Rams, but not against the Patriots. Not falling for the Steelers trickery was only one of the things that saved the game. The other thing was "the water" got into Roethlisberger.

On third down and seven yards to go, once's Roethlisberger knew he didn't have the fade route to the far-side he wanted, he should've gunned the ball out of the back of the end zone. Bring in Chris Boswell and to tie the game to send the game to overtime. But he tried to be there hero and went for the very dangerous, over-the-middle pass, which as we know now was a terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible mistake. It cost them the game.