• What the Steelers will do: Unlike most games, when their No. 1 priority is always to stop the run, they will focus on limiting damage caused by Patriots QB Tom Brady. And they will attempt to do it by using a lot of their nickel defense featuring five defensive backs and pressuring Brady from the inside, forcing him to get outside the pocket. Even though Willie Parker is the league's No. 2 rusher, the Steelers have struggled with the running game and need to do a better job against the Patriots, who gave up 130 yards last week to Willis McGahee. The key will be to get Parker into the second tier against the Patriots linebackers, who are older and slower.

What the Patriots will do: There isn't much secret what Brady will do: He leads the league in attempts, completions, yards and TDs. The only question is which of the six targets he will choose to employ. The Steelers, who lead the league in pass defense, will take away the big play to Moss, forcing Brady to throw underneath to WRs Wes Welker (84 catches) and Donte Stallworth (40) or check down to TE Ben Watson (28) or RB Kevin Faulk (32). A misconception is the Patriots have abandoned the run, but they have used four backs to rush 319 times, led by Laurence Maroney. That is just 30 times fewer than Parker and Najeh Davenport.

• NT Vince Wilfork: He is one of three No. 1 picks in the defensive line. If he lines directly over the center, it will be up to Sean Mahan to create lanes for the running game -- something at which the Steelers have struggled in the interior. But the Patriots like to disguise a lot of their looks and often shift their linemen to different positions, creating confusion with blocking assignments in the offensive line.

• Game: Steelers (9-3) at New England Patriots (12-0). • When: 4:15 p.m. • Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. • TV: KDKA. • Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

This has been a series marked by long, but ended, win streaks. The Patriots have won 15 consecutive regular-season games, but they had their NFL-record 18 consecutive regular-season win streak ended by the Steelers Oct. 31, 2004. Conversely, the Patriots ended the Steelers' 16-game winning streak in the 2005 AFC championship game.

• To win, the Patriots must ... 1. Be boss of the Moss. The Steelers have allowed just one pass play longer than 40 yards this season, best in the league.

2. Not doubt Thomas. They signed LB Adalius Thomas in free agency for this reason -- to torment the Steelers and pressure Roethlisberger.

3. Go to the Welker once too often. Brady likes to check down to Welker, who has 19 catches and three touchdowns on third down.

• To win, the Steelers must ... 1. Get to Brady in bunches. The best way to disrupt the league's top passer is to force him out of the pocket with inside rushes and blitzes.

2. Gain on the chains. The Steelers have converted just 18 of 43 third-down situations in their three road losses, a number they have to improve.

3. Light up Matt. OLB James Harrison (8 1/2 sacks) could present problems for LT Matt Light, who struggled in protection against the Ravens.