As long as the Patriots stay undefeated, you can expect this every week. The other side is going to get all worked up, sort of like the upstart gunslinger who wants to take down the Sundance Kid (a metaphor that reminded us of this Tom Brady fashion shoot).

But getting back to this Sunday's game between Pittsburgh and New England, the Steelers represent the the most likely opportunity to derail the Patriot express and -- here it comes -- some Steeler is "guaranteeing" a victory. The talker is Steelers defensive back Anthony Smith and his guarantee was real brassy but, well, some teammates would rather he keep his mouth shut. 

For instance, Pittsburgh linebacker said James Farrior said, "Oh well, I guess we've got to go deal with that."

On the other side, the Patriots -- who never guarantee anything -- were being the Patriots. Safety Rodney Harrison on Anthony Smith: "Never heard of him."

And while we're at it, we want to reprise a hilarious video game about the upcoming Steelers-Patriots clash. (The video game is at the end of this entry.) When first ran this, we heard from Patriots fans who took it as a shot at their team. Actually, it's an incredible clever lampoon of Big Sports, in general, including the media.

This is a repeat from a blog entry we posted a few weeks ago:

OK, this takes a little explaining but if you hang in there, it's worth it.

It appears a Pittsburgh Steelers fan Web site has put together a Ben Roethlisberger video game where the object is to thwart the inexorable march of the New England Patriots. It's really vintage space shoot-'em up stuff, but the graphics are hilarious. Ben is astride a motorcycle dodging oncoming Patriots and a bobbing Tedy Bruschi. To gain more power, Ben passes through a floating head of the late Art Rooney and Ben's blasters turn into mega-cigars (the Chief was a big stogie man).

Now, when I've tried to operate the game, I've had to hit the skip button on the intro, which is pretty funny in itself, but the game shuts down on me if I stay on the intro too long. But you can always restart and hit the skip button on both pages of the intro to go right to the game. So, I suggest watching the intro -- you have to hit continue to get to the second page -- and as soon as the intro appears to be ending, hit skip to go to the game. You'll know you've gotten to the end of the intro when Ben says, "... because I'm the only one who can." 

If the game cuts out, go back to it, hit start, hit the skip button on both pages of the intro and then you'll be able to help Ben against the Pats (or not and watch him get destroyed, depending on what team you dislike the most). Arrow keys move him up and down, back and forth, and the space bar fires Ben's rockets

We give props to the Big Lead for pointing it out. And huge props to the fans who put this together, whoever they are.

Here's the game itself. Note to journalists, insider references to author Gregg Easterbrook and ESPN ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber and eventually the floating Bill Simmons.