Both the Patriots and Steelers were ""A Cut Above"" the other NFL teams in 2004. With the two best records in the league, New England naturally would face Pittsburgh January 23, 2005. (Some assumed the winner of this game would automatically win the Super Bowl two weeks later.) Though Pittsburgh had the stingiest defense in the NFL, New England overwhelmed them on both sides of the ball. The end result: the visitors walked away winning 41-27, leaving Pittsburgh 1-4 in their last five AFC Championship games.