Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press Jerome Bettis watches from the sidelines as the Patriots build up a 3-touchdown lead in the first half. Click photo for larger image.

Jerome Bettis sounded as if he wanted to return for a 13th NFL season, but that's one Bus schedule that won't be known for a while.

"I have to sit down with my family, take some time and just get away from this loss," said Bettis, who ran 17 times for 64 yards and a touchdown last night. "Let my body tell me what I need to do. Physically, if I can come back and be as productive as this year, that's what I'd like to do."

Bettis started, but the New England Patriots held him to 16 yards on eight carries in the first half. Duce Staley replaced him and ran 10 times for 26 yards in the first half. Bettis was more effective in the second half after the Steelers fell behind, 24-3, at the half.

It was the first time in eight starts, six in the regular season and last week against the New York Jets, that Bettis did not get at least 100 yards in a start.

"I felt good," Bettis said. "I didn't get as many opportunities as we'd like. I said, if we can get 40 carries between me, Duce and Verron [Haynes], we'd have a good chance at winning. We didn't get it."

The Steelers came close with 37 carries for 163 yards and a 4.4-yard average per carry.

If Bettis needs help making up his mind on whether to return or not, guard Alan Faneca supplied an early boost.

"I hope he stays, I hope he stays," Faneca said. "Nobody wants to leave on a sour note. J.B.'s the heart of this team, I hope he comes back."

Bell's final toll?

Linebacker Kendrell Bell, the NFL's defensive rookie of the year in 2001, was made inactive yesterday, even though he practiced all week. Bell played three games this season because of groin injuries.

"I was told we wanted special teams guys out there," Bell said. "I respected that. I'd probably make the same decision."

Bell, who can become an unrestricted free agent in March, said his preference would be to return to the Steelers.

"Nothing would bring me more joy than to stay in Pittsburgh. We'll see."

Tough to take

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Hines Ward sits on the bench as fans begin to leave Heinz Field. Click photo for larger image.

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward led the team with five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. But, after the game, he didn't have visions of any of that.

"I just feel sorry for the city of Pittsburgh," Ward said. "This is the second time since I've been here that I've had to see another team celebrate on our field. I don't want that to happen again."

Ward was on the squad that lost the AFC championship game to the Patriots at Heinz Field following the 2001 season. In that game, Ward had six catches for 64 yards.

Glove story, epilogue

After much thought and discussion, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went with the glove. Just one glove.

With the weather bitterly cold but dry, Roethlisberger left his right (throwing) hand bare for the game against New England.

"All week, I practiced without it," he said. "I wanted to see if I could get a better grasp of the ball. I wasn't sure how the ball was going to feel because I knew it was going to have the AFC championship logo on it, so I just wanted to go out without it and see how it would feel, see if I could keep my hand warm. It felt pretty good."

Frozen Shore

The game was the second-coldest ever played in Pittsburgh, 11 degrees at kickoff.

The coldest also was played against New England, Dec. 17, 1989, when it was 5 degrees at kickoff of a 28-10 Steelers victory. The only other game played in colder temperatures came Sept. 10, 1977 in Cincinnati, when it was 2 degrees at kickoff of a 17-0 Bengals victory.

Playoff perfection

New England quarterback Tom Brady now is 8-0 as a starter in the playoffs with two Super Bowl rings and a shot at a third. But he didn't do much of anything as a rookie in 2000, playing in just one game, so he's as impressed with Roethlisberger as anyone.

"It's unbelievable for a rookie quarterback to take a team to the AFC championship," Brady said. "He played great all year. I think there's a lot of respect from all our team for the Steelers."

Belichick's fire

	Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press Patriots coach Bill Belichick cracked a rare smile during the post-game award ceremony. Click photo for larger image.

New England coach Bill Belichick is as bland as dry toast in public, but sometimes there are hints about his persona behind the scenes.

Brady said the Patriots saw their coach's other side in the past week.

"We didn't have a very good practice on Wednesday, and he let us know it," Brady said. "You would have thought we were 0-17 the way he spoke to us. He puts us in a great frame of mind."

What about Bruins, Celtics?

The Boston area can make it two major sports championships in a row if the Patriots beat Philadelphia in the Super Bowl. The Red Sox won the World Series last fall.

"It's been a great season for New England sports," Brady said. "Hopefully, it will continue with one more game."

Quick slants

The Steelers, who had a plus-11 takeaway-giveaway ratio for the season, had 10 turnovers in their last three games.

The Steelers' defense, which hadn't allowed 300 yards in any of the previous five games, allowed 322. The Patriots have gained at least 300 yards in 11 consecutive games.

Pittsburgh's defense, which had allowed only three touchdowns in the past three games, allowed four last night.

The Patriots were called for only one penalty and the Steelers two. The Patriots have committed five penalties or fewer in six consecutive games.

Steelers kicker Jeff Reed made both his field-goal attempts last night, ending the season with 21 consecutive successful attempts.

The 65,242 in attendance was the largest crowd in Steelers history.

The loss means Bill Cowher and his staff will coach the AFC in the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, for the fourth time in 11 years.

Inactive lists

Steelers: Bell, cornerback Chidi Iwuoma, running back Willie Parker, offensive tackle Barrett Brooks, guard Jim Jones, tight end Matt Kranchick, linebacker Alonzo Jackson and quarterback Brian St. Pierre.

Patriots: wide receiver Kevin Kasper, cornerback Earthwind Moreland, running back Cedric Cobbs, defensive back Antwan Harris, tight end Jed Weaver, defensive end Marquise Hill, defensive lineman Richard Seymour and quarterback Jim Miller.

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Correction/Clarification: (Published Jan. 26, 2005) The coldest game-time temperature in Steelers history was 2 degrees when they played the Bengals in Cincinnati on Dec. 10, 1977. The Steelers lost, 17-10. An incorrect date and score were originally reported in this Steelers Notebook in Jan. 24, 2005 editions.