The last step is yet another misstep for Cowher

PITTSBURGH -- For Steelers coach Bill Cowher, the frustration of failure in AFC Championship games continues. Last night's 41-27 loss to the Patriots was Cowher's third straight defeat in AFC title games and dropped his overall postseason record to 8-9 and just 1-3 against New England.

Cowher has not reached the Super Bowl since the 1995 season when his Steelers lost to Dallas, 27-17.

"We had three turnovers," he said. "We gave up some big plays on defense and got ourselves into a hole we couldn't get out of. The things that we really have not done all year and certainly the turnovers, we overcame last week. But we were not able to overcome it today."

Cowher will be second-guessed for settling for a field goal from the Patriots' 2-yard line early in the fourth quarter while trailing, 31-17.

"I think with 13 1/2 minutes to go, to be only down by 11 ponts, which is just two scores -- a field goal, a touchdown, and a 2-point conversion -- I thought there was too much time to go with 2 yards to come away with nothing," Cowher said. "That's my decision. I would do it again."

Rookie mistakes
Ben Roethlisberger, who set a record by winning his first 14 NFL starts (including the playoffs), was unable to continue his remarkable run, submitting the first three-interception game of his young career.

Over his final five starts -- Roethlisberger rested during the regular-season finale win over Buffalo -- the rookie had 10 interceptions.

Much was made about the glove Roethlisberger wore on his throwing hand during last week's 20-17 overtime victory over the Jets. Despite frigid conditions yesterday, Roethlisberger opted not to wear the glove.

Not dogs' day
The Steelers were the first home team to enter the AFC Championship game as an underdog (3 points). When the Steelers and Patriots met in Pittsburgh for the 2001 AFC title game, the Steelers were 10-point favorites. The Patriots came away with a 24-17 victory . . . For the 10th time since the current playoff format was adopted in 1990, the conference title game participants had already met during the regular season (a 34-20 Steelers win Oct. 31). The last team to win the earlier matchup but lose in the playoffs was the 1997 Steelers, who were beaten by Denver, 24-21, at Three Rivers Stadium . . . It was 11 degrees at kickoff, marking the third-coldest game in Steelers history . . . Jeff Reed's 43-yard field goal in the first quarter and 20-yarder in the fourth quarter extended his streak to 19 straight successful kicks, tying the team record set in 1994 by Gary Anderson . . . The 24-3 halftime deficit was Pittsburgh's biggest of the season.

Collected calls
The Steelers were unlucky in the penalty department. After commiting no penalties in the first half, they were whistled for defensive holding in the third quarter after apparently stopping a Patriots drive. On the next play, wide receiver David Givens fumbled a Tom Brady pass, but a challenge by Patriots coach Bill Belichick led the call to be reversed. On the same play, Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans was called for unnecessary roughness, which was tacked on to the end of Givens's catch. The Patriots made it 31-10 on the next play on Corey Dillon's 25-yard run . . . Last night's crowd of 65,242 was a Steelers record . . . The loss was the Steelers' first of the season at Heinz Field.