As the Steelers try to shake off their disappointment, Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter sums things up by saying, "They outplayed us."

01:00 AM EST on Monday, January 24, 2005

BY JIM DONALDSON
Journal Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH -- It was all set up for the 16-1 Steelers and their undefeated rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

"We had everything that we needed," Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter said. "We were at home. We had a great game plan. Going into the game, I really felt like it was our time to win."

Sorry, said the Patriots. Not this time.

"They outplayed us," Porter said. "That's the first time I can say we've been outplayed. It just happened at the wrong time.

"I wish I had the answers. But I really don't. I have to take my hat off to the Patriots. You can't take away from what they did."

Roethlisberger felt the 41-27 defeat, which was as resounding as it was disappointing, shouldn't take away from what he and the Steelers accomplished this season.

"We had a story-book season," he said. "Unfortunately, a lot of people will see it as all for nothing because we didn't go all the way."

It was the first loss as a pro for Roethlisberger, who was the runaway choice as NFL Rookie of the Year.

"This is a totally different feeling, obviously," he said. "I feel like I let a lot of people down -- my teammates, the coaches, the fans. But only one team gets to the end of the season like they want to."

It certainly wasn't the way veteran running back Jerome Bettis wanted to end what may be his final season.

"The question of me coming back," Bettis said, "is something that I've got to sit down with my family and take some time. Let my body tell me what I need to do. If, physically, I can come back and be as productive as I was this year, then that's something I'd like to do.

"Right now, I just want to take some time and get away from this loss. It's one of those situations that you say to yourself: 'This could have been my last opportunity, and it was missed.'

"If that's the case, it's something you have to live with. Through our life, we have a lot of regret, and this will go down as one of the biggest regrets -- not being able to get to the big game."

Pittsburgh's vaunted defense, which gave up fewer points than any team in the league this season, was shredded for a season-high 41. And the offense, which had been so effective with Roethlisberger calling signals, struggled against New England's confusing coverages.

"They do a little bit of everything, bringing corners, linebackers, and safeties," Roethlisberger said. "They threw the book at us, just like we thought.

"A lot of times, they only rushed three guys. They were dropping eight, nine guys sometimes, and that makes it hard when you only have three guys on a route, because they can double and triple-team guys.

"Sometimes, you just try to make a play. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad."

There was more bad than good last night for Roethlisberter, who threw three interceptions -- including one that was returned 87 yards for a touchdown by strong safety Rodney Harrison late in the second quarter.

"It was not," said Roethlisberger, "a great game on my part."