Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) at New England Patriots (7-4), Sunday, 4:15 p.m. ET, CBS-TV

These are the games that have been so fascinating to watch in the Bill Belichick era.

Pittsburgh is again a power team that comes to Foxboro with top-ranked defense in the NFL against an offense seems to finding its 2007 mojo. Good for the Patriots that the Steelers are also bring with them safety Anthony Smith. You remember him, don’t you? The rookie, I repeat, ROOKIE, who declared that the Steelers would come into the land of the undefeated and beat the Patriots in their house. The Patriots responded with a 34-13 butt-whipping, including this flea-flicker featuring Brady-to-Moss-to-Brady-to-Gaffney for a TD. Any guesses as to the identity of No. 27?
“>

Granted it’s much different this year as Cassel could pull off something like that in Brady’s place and the Steelers are 8-3 while the Patriots are in a fight for their playoff lives at 7-4. Still, Smith hasn’t backed off his bravado, telling the Indiana (Pa.) Gazette that the Steelers would beat the Pats if everything ‘clicked’. He said this following his team’s courageous 27-10 home field win over the 1-9-1 Cincinnati Bengals a week-and-a-half ago.

Here are five simple ways to make Smith eat crow again.

1. Protect Matt Cassel. Thank goodness Matt Light did not get suspended for this game. In the words of Matt Cassel, “As a quarterback, you love your left tackle.” True dat, Matt, true dat. Cassel is becoming King Midas of the New England Patriots. Everything he touches turns to gold… and points. The team is AVERAGING 500 total yards and 39 points in its last two games and he, of course, has accomplished something no quarterback in team history has approached – 400 yards passing in consecutive games. The Steelers, with defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, will blitz anytime, any way possible. The Patriots will be ready for that possibility. Cassel has been sacked 34 times this season but just six times in the last three.

2. Force Ben Roethlisberger to beat you deep. This may sound ludicrous given some of the recent performances of the Patriots secondary (like last week when Chad Pennington lit them up for 341 yards and three TDs) but remember that Roethlisberger is banged up and has more trouble throwing deep than even Pennington. Throw in the fact that Willie Parker is hobbled by a knee and not at full strength and the focus should be getting ‘hat on hat’ as Matt Light and every offensive lineman is fond of saying.

3. Keep feeding Wes Welker and Randy Moss. Welker has caught at least six passes in all 11 games and isn’t stopping there. He had 120 yards last Sunday and has at least 100 yards receiving in three straight games. Moss is coming off his fourth 100-yard game of the season, a 125-yard performance against Miami that included three touchdowns. They are the hottest receiving tandem in football.

4. Put pressure on Roethlisberger. The Steelers love to get to the quarterback but they also love to let their quarterback show how tough he is… or at least it seems that way. Roethlisberger has been 32 times, not including the hurries and hits he takes. Teams that blitz don’t like to be blitzed, so goes the old addage. We haven’t seen too much corner-blitzing this season. This might be the game Belichick brings it out to bring extra heat on a quarterback that has felt it all year.

5. Keep your head on a swivel if you are a linebacker or anyone else covering Hines Ward. He may be the most physical and most effective downfield blocking receiver there is. Just ask Cincinnati first round pick Keith Rivers.
“>

The USC product wasn’t expecting Ward to turn back and seal his side of the field when Ward caught him with a clean shot to his upper body that fractured his jaw on Oct. 19, ending the rookie’s season. Ward, maybe more than any talented linebacker, offensive lineman or running back, symbolizes what the Steelers are all about… Being Physical.  It would be shocking if the Patriots weren’t ready for it.

FINAL CUTS:

Matt Cassel knows what to expect against the Steelers.

Mike Vrabel knows what to expect against the team he played for in the late 90s.

Bill Belichick brought out his old notes from his Cleveland days to prepare for this week… and not much has changed.

FINAL TAKE: True the Patriots are without several of their defensive leaders, including Rodney Harrison and  Adalius Thomas while Ty Warren (groin) and Richard Seymour (knee) are banged up. But rookie Jerod Mayo has come on stronger and stronger each week and Vince Wilfork is again playing his best football at the best time. The Pats should win that battle while there’s no reason Kevin Faulk can’t eat up the Steelers again like he has in the past. The Steelers are tough but have lost to the Giants and Colts at home and narrowly escaped the Chargers on their turf. The Patriots are again the more desperate team and will play like it at their home.

Patriots 24, Steelers 14