Patriots stuff Steelers to set up Superbowl final with Falcons

New England Patriots - Atlanta Falcons Live

The New England Patriots scored the first 19 points of the second half to turn a tight contest into a romp as they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 on Sunday to set up a Super Bowl clash against the high-scoring Atlanta Falcons.

They will face the Falcons in the Super Bowl in two weeks time after a very disappointing Championship Sunday saw both the Packers and the Steelers annihilated in the NFC and AFC respectively. 

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The Steelers managed to keep it close for a while and even made a comeback in the second quarter with a DeAngelo Williams five-yard run and a Chris Boswell field goal, but Chris Hogan was having one of those days because he caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Brady on his way to racking up 180 yards on nine catches - the exact same number as Julio Jones in the game beforehand.

After the break, it was as you were with Stephen Gostkowski kicking a 47-yard field goal followd by a LaGarette Blount one-yard run and and a a 10-yard touchdown catch by Julian Edelmann following a fumble by Steelers wide receiver Eli Rogers.

Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception in the fourth quarter, which was the first of the game, and the Patriots scored a field goal with just over six minutes remaining to leave the score 36-9 to the home team with very little hope of a comeback. Cobi Hamilton caight a 20-yard touchdown from Big Ben and Williams caught the two-point conversion but it was too little too late with just over three minutes on the clock and 27 points between the teams.

It was Bil Belichick and Tom Brady's 207th win as a tandem and they will be facing the Atlanta Falcons in two weeks time in NRG Stadium, Houston in search of number 207 on the same night they have the small matter of going in search of their fifth Super Bowl ring together also.