Don't Look Now...

Editor's Note: This article was originally featured in Emerson College's The Berkeley Beacon: http://www.berkeleybeacon.com/

BY GABE SOUZA
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

It was second and goal on the three-yard line, midway through the third quarter, with the Patriots cruising 17-3.

But New England's quarterback doesn't settle for cruising.

In recent years he might have lobbed a few spirals in the direction of Randy Moss -- who may, or may not have caught them.

But this was not the time for that. This was time for No. 12 to take back his team, to do what he would've done in the Super Bowl-winning years of 2001-04.

Tom Brady rushed to the line of scrimmage, gave center Dan Koppen a quick pat, took the snap, and used every inch of his 6-foot-4 frame to pile-drive his way into the end zone.

The touchdown gave the Patriots a commanding 20-point lead over Pittsburgh, a team many deemed the best in the NFL.

Almost immediately, over 64,000 Terrible Towel-waving fans fell silent.

Big Bad Tom, with his golden locks and growing scruff, leapt up, raised the ball, and with one giant scream, spiked it to the ground in celebration, instantly refreshing memories of the historic Snow-Bowl win nine long years ago.

And when that pigskin pounded the turf Sunday night, it sent a shock wave through Heinz Field, the repercussions of which were felt throughout the NFL.

The message was clear: Tom Brady is back.

The Pats tacked on a few more scores and defeated the Black and Gold 39-26, Pittsburgh's worst beatdown of the year.

There's no doubt New England has had its fair share of impressive victories this year, from the opening day feeding frenzy against Cincinnati to the obliteration of Miami last month.

But what the Patriots showed in this win -- this white-washing -- is that they are different from last year's team, and even further from the undefeated squad of 2007.

They're young, chippy, and they've got a lot to prove. They don't want to just beat you, they want to pound you into the turf.

Sunday night was a true Belichick and Brady performance. Coming off the team's worst loss of the season in Cleveland, they went out and pummeled one of the best teams in the league.

But it wasn't just that they beat Pittsburgh; they embarrassed them.

They didn't just score the most points the Steelers have given up all year; they scored the most points by a visiting team ever at Heinz Field.

They didn't just expose one of the NFL's best defenses -- they brutalized it. Heading into this game, the Steelers were giving up an average of just 75 rushing yards per game. The Patriots gained over 100.

It wasn't enough to shut down Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense for most of the game. Instead, they took the Steelers' future Hall of Fame wide receiver Hines Ward out of the game with a concussion after a blistering hit from safety James Sanders.

The examples could continue, but the point is clear: Brady's fire is back. The cocky, in-your-face, emotional leader that took no prisoners in rising from being a seventh-round draft pick to Super Bowl MVP in one season, is back.

You saw it in week six in a huge home win vs. Baltimore, after Brady delivered a first down strike to tight end Aaron Hernandez and then got stapled to the turf by all-pro linebacker Terrell Suggs.

Instead of gingerly picking himself up, Brady shot to his feet and was in Suggs' grill chirping away before the referee even blew his whistle.

Only Brady and Suggs know what was said during that conversation, but one thing's for sure -- I wish I could see that every week.

Because Brady knows when he lines up across from you on Sunday, he will beat you.

And not only will he beat you, but he'll embarrass you.

That's why he talks the talk. Because he can walk the walk better than anyone around.

That's the Brady I remember.

In recent years it seemed Brady had tried to rack up the statistics a la Peyton Manning.

But now No. 12 is back on the scene. The guy who doesn't care about his number of touchdown passes or his completion percentage as long as his team wins. The guy who will do almost whatever it takes is back on the gridiron playing like he's in high school.

Hey, NFL, you might wanna watch out.

Or don't. See if Tom cares.