Patriots Beat Steelers 36-17 As Tom Brady, Bill Belichick Reach Record Seven Super Bowl Appearances

Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to a 36-17 home victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday night’s AFC Championship Game to lead the franchise to an NFL-record ninth Super Bowl appearance.

Patriots Beat Steelers 36-17 As Tom Brady, Bill Belichick Reach Record Seven Super Bowl Appearances

That wasn’t the only record the Pats broke on Sunday, however.

Brady threw for 384 yards — a Patriots playoff game record — and three touchdowns. The quarterback has now thrown for more than 300 yards for the 11th time in a postseason game, the most all-time.

Once Brady plays in Houston, he will surpass defensive lineman Mike Lodish for the most Super Bowl appearances by a player, with seven. Lodish played in four with the Buffalo Bills and two with Denver. If Brady wins, he will match Charles Haley for the most Super Bowl titles by a player with five.

New England coach Bill Belichick also now has the most playoff wins of all time and will have the most Super Bowl appearances by a head coach with seven. Belichick, who has four national championship titles, could pass Chuck Noll for the most Super Bowl victories in NFL history should he win in Houston on Feb. 5.

Chris Hogan caught two touchdown passes and set a franchise playoff record with 180 receiving yards.

“There are only two teams left standing, and I’m happy we’re one of them,” Brady said.

The Patriots have come a long way this season. Brady missed the first four games due to suspension over the Deflate-gate scandal.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who handed down the suspension, was notably absent from Sunday night’s game, opting to be in Atlanta for the NFC Championship game instead.

At Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium, Pats fans taunted Goodell by chanting “Ro-ger! Ro-ger!” and “Where is Roger?”

Brady said after the game he didn’t hear the chanting.

Should the Pats defeat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI in two weeks, Goodell will have no choice but to finally face Brady again to hand him the prestigious Lombardi Trophy.