NFL-Patriots crush Steelers to stay on course

FOXBOROUGH, Mass., Dec. 9 (Reuters) - The New England Patriots crushed the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-13 on Sunday to move closer to the NFL's first perfect season since 1972.

Tom Brady threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns against the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense to lead the Patriots, trying to emulate the feat of the Miami Dolphins 35 years ago, to a 13-0 record.

Brady's four TD passes, two to Randy Moss, gave him 45 for the campaign, the third best total in history with three regular season games left.

The Pats broke the game open with a trick play in the third quarter, Brady getting the ball back from Moss and hitting Jabar Gaffney with a 56-yard touchdown pass.

"That was a good win for us today," New England coach Bill Belichick told reporters Aafter his 100th vcitory as Patriots coach. "It was good to win. Pittsburgh is a good team."

The Patriots clinched a first-round playoff bye.

They host the New York Jets next Sunday, the first time the teams have met since New York accused New England of videotaping signals in the season opener on Sept. 9. The incident led to the league stripping the Patriots of a first-round draft choice and fining Belichick $500,000.

The Patriots then host the winless Miami Dolphins and finish the regular season at the New York Giants, an NFC playoff contender, on Dec. 29.

Brady's record of 45 TD passes is the third most thrown in an NFL season. Peyton Manning set the record, with 49 in 2004.

GOAL-LINE STANDS

Pittsburgh fell to 9-4 and suffered from two New England goal-line stands, one leading to a field goal and the other ending on downs at the one-yard line.

The two Moss touchdowns were scored when he beat Steeler safety Anthony Smith, who earlier in the week had guaranteed a Pittsburgh win. Smith was also beaten on the flea-flicker, just missing out on knocking the ball down as it fell into Gaffney's hands.

"We've played against a lot better safeties than him," Belichick said.

Moss had six catches for 123 yards and has a career-high 19 TD catches this season, the second-highest season total in NFL history. He also broke the Patriots' record for touchdowns in a season and failed to hold what would have been a third TD catch.

"It was a good victory today, overall," said Moss.

Stephen Gostkowski kicked two field goals for the Patriots and Jeff Reed did the same for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh moved into a 3-0 lead on the first Reed field goal as the Steelers became the first team all season to score on its first possession against the Patriots.

"No. 1-ranked defense and all that, we went out and moved the ball," said Belichick. (Editing by Ed Osmond)