Combination unbeatable

Brady and Moss have it all together again in demolition

Jabar Gaffney (seven catches, 122 yards) drags several Steelers for some extra real estate late in the game. (Barry Chin/Globe Staff)

FOXBOROUGH - The Tom Brady-Randy Moss connection returned in a big way yesterday in the Patriots' 34-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Moss finished with seven catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns, and now has 19 touchdowns on the season, just three shy of tying Jerry Rice's NFL record for a season, set in 1987.

In the team's previous two games, Moss had been limited to nine catches for 77 yards, with one touchdown, as opponents adopted a physical approach. The Steelers also played physical, but Moss had the answers.

"Sometimes it's frustrating to get bumped and then once you get up to another level, you're still going to get bumped," Moss said. "My main thing is just to try to stay focused and do what I have to do week to week to help the team move the ball."

Moss also has been coaxed along by Brady.

"He's determined to kill you [opponent] at any given time. They can give you a fourth and 24 and Tom's still ready to kill you. I don't know how you're going to get it, but that's really his mindset," Moss said. "When you have a guy like that leading your team, leading your offense, everybody else has to pick up and get on his level."

Moss has enjoyed developing a rapport with Brady off the field as well, as the two have lockers that are side by side.

"In my time here, we have gotten to know each other," Moss said. "We talk about everything. That's one thing - I really have trust in him that I can talk to him about anything that's going on. It's not just even football-related. I hope he has the same trust in me. That's how you develop a relationship."

As for his pursuit of records, Moss indicated it is not on his radar.

"One thing I really try to do is to stay in straight tunnel vision," he said. "Coach Belichick doesn't let his players get ahead of themselves."

Naturally, Brady was happy to see Moss put forth his big-time performance yesterday.

"He works extremely hard and we'll continue to find way to get him the ball and, obviously, he had a huge impact on the game," Brady said.

The great Gaffney
Jabar Gaffney continued to show his value to the offense, finishing with seven catches for a career-high 122 yards.

Gaffney was on the receiving end of the most dazzling play of the game, a 56-yard touchdown pass from Brady that started with Brady throwing a lateral to Moss, who dropped the ball, picked it up, and then sent it back across the field to the quarterback, who let it fly.

Gaffney came up huge last week against the Ravens, catching the winning touchdown pass with 44 seconds left, and the week before that he had six catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in a 31-28 victory over the Eagles.

In the last three weeks, Gaffney has given the Patriots' passing game an extra threat, as he's caught 14 balls for 253 yards and three touchdowns.

"Yeah, just getting the opportunity," said Gaffney. "They're putting me in there and I'm making plays when they come to me and my number is called."

Ahead of the game

Nose tackle Vince Wilfork had one his best games of the season. Wilfork finished with seven tackles, a tackle for a loss, a sack, and a quarterback hit.

On Pittsburgh's first possession, Wilfork set the stone, dropping Willie Parker for a 2-yard loss. He recorded his second sack of the season, nabbing Ben Roethlisberger for an 8-yard loss on Pittsburgh's first possession of the second half.

"I knew the block that they were giving because they were giving it to me all game," said Wilfork. "I basically gambled on that play and he made a check at the line and I heard the same check earlier in the game and it was a pass, so I knew right then and there what I was going to do.

"[Alan ] Faneca came down. It was like a double team, but it was a pass play and I spinned out of it. I was back there before he could even fake the ball, and I think I kind of surprised him because once he turned around it looked like he tried to curl up. I stole a play."

Peed thrills

Chad Jackson saw action as a kickoff and punt returner yesterday. The second-year wide receiver had a 39-yard kickoff return that set up New England's first touchdown. He finished with four kick returns for 70 yards and two punt returns for 7 yards.

"It felt great to get out there," said Jackson, who was active for only the second time all year. "I was part of the special teams a lot this week. I did punt return and kick return and it felt good to go out there and show my speed and show what I can do."

Jackson did mishandle a kick return in the first half and admitted he was nervous, but he showed how explosive he can be on the 39-yarder, when he used his speed to bounce the return outside.

"I just saw an open lane to the left," he said. "It was basically a return to go up the middle and I just saw a lane on the left side and I took it and I followed my blocks. It was good blocking by the kickoff return team."

Jackson's activation meant the Patriots went with six wide receivers on the 45-man game day roster.

Neal sits out

The Patriots were without right guard Stephen Neal, who missed his fifth game of the season with a shoulder injury. Neal was replaced by Russ Hochstein to start the game. Hochstein shared time with fellow backup Billy Yates, who played the majority of the second quarter.

Wide receiver Troy Brown was also inactive, delaying his much-anticipated debut.

The other New England inactives were cornerback Eddie Jackson, safety Rashad Baker, tackle Wesley Britt, defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith, and linebacker Chad Brown. Matt Gutierrez was the third QB.

Wilson gets work

Safety Eugene Wilson was active for the first time since the Patriots' 49-28 victory over the Dolphins Oct. 21. He was on the field as part of the dime package and was credited with a tackle. Wilson, who was hobbled by an ankle injury and later a groin, had sat out the previous five games . . . The Patriots became the 11th team in NFL history to score 500 points in a season. They now have 503 . . . With a team-high nine catches for 78 yards, Wes Welker topped the 90-catch mark for the season, the fifth time in team history a receiver has done that. Welker has a team-leading 93 receptions . . . Tight end Benjamin Watson was hurt in the third quarter following an 8-yard reception. He was belted out of bounds and fumbled. He did return.