“You heard a lot of talk about it being a rivalry,” said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. “It hasn’t been much of a rivalry because they’ve gotten after us. For it to be a rivalry we’ve got to win some and that’s what we set out to do when we came up here today.”

The Steelers forced New England into mistakes. Playing against a team who would give them little margin for error, the Patriots went way outside the margins. And it wasn’t just the turnovers. Wide receiver Randy Moss had four drops — two in the end zone on a drive that ended with a missed field goal just before the half.

“I am speaking for myself, I am very disappointed in my play,” said Moss. “Bill (Belichick) says time and again, ‘Do your job.’ My job as a wide receiver is to get open, catch the ball and score touchdowns. The balls were there, they just weren’t caught.”

Moss said that the first drop may have gotten inside his head. “Once you drop the ball and you drop another ball, I think it does start to affect you mentally. That is why they call us professionals because we are supposed to let the bad go and get back to playing football. … The balls were hitting my hands and hitting my body. I just couldn’t secure the catch.”

The door hasn’t slammed on the Patriots. But reality’s risen up and been recognized a bit. Their five losses have come to the Jets, Steelers, Colts, Chargers and Dolphins. All — except San Diego — are AFC playoff contenders. There’s ample evidence that the Patriots are not an upper tier team this season. Their seven wins are over teams that are a combined 35-48. Their losses are to teams that are a combined 36-22. Mediocre and fighting for their playoff lives is not an accustomed place for the Patriots to be.

Said Moss, “Hopefully, this is something we can rebound from. But it does hurt. It is a bad taste.”

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 9 games STEELERS 28, BRONCOS 10: Roethlisberger throws 3 TDs COWBOYS 20, EAGLES 16: Austin’s TD puts Dallas atop NFC East COLTS 20, TEXANS 17: Indy's 17th-straight regular season win  |    Video SAINTS 30, PANTHERS 20: N.O. now 8-0 for first time in its history CHARGERS 21, GIANTS 20: N.Y. loses 4th straight  |    Video BUCS 38, PACKERS 28: Rookie QB leads Tampa to first win  |    Video PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 17: Brady-Moss connection thrives  |    Video CARDINALS 41, BEARS 21: Warner tosses 5 TDs  |    Video BENGALS 17, RAVENS 7: Cincy cements AFC North status  |    Video FALCONS 31, REDSKINS 17: Atlanta gets into scuffle, still wins TITANS 34, 49ERS 27: Young improves to 2-0 as a starter this year SEAHAWKS 32, LIONS 20: Seattle overcomes 17-0 hole JAGUARS 24, CHIEFS 21: Chargers cast-off Chambers can't save K.C. Byes: Bills, Browns, Raiders, Rams, Vikings, Jets

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