Sports Redux: There Are No Guarantees In Life

If Anthony Smith has learned anything this week, it's that guarantees are best left to Cajun chefs and the Men's Wearhouse guy. Because when you're an inexperienced safety trash-talking a 12-0 juggernaut, you can bet they'll listen. And listen the Pats did, toasting Smith twice en route to a 34-13 pasting of the Steelers.

First, Smith misplayed Randy Moss, which is almost always good for a highlight, as Brady hit Moss for a TD while Smith was still in a different ZIP code. Then came the play of the year, the flea-flicker from Brady to Moss (his fumble "sold the play", cracked a jovial Belichick in the press conference), back to Brady, and downfield to Jabar Gaffney, while Smith was trying to figure out who was where and where he should be. "We've played better safeties that that," added Coach Bill, who usually hates to say anything like that, but felt warranted here.

The feel-good ending was a welcome sight for the Pats, who were coming off two straight dismal wins, and were in another fight against Pittsburgh for the first half. Brady and Moss had their one-play drive, but Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers marched it right back, hitting Najeh "The Dump Truck" Davenport for the #2 Steelers score.

But that was the end of Pittsburgh's highlight reel. The second half was just Brady pass after Brady pass after Brady pass, carving up the vaunted Steeler defense, killing the clock (most teams use the running game, but the Pats aren't most teams) and making the second half feel just as good as those early routs.

So they're 13-0. As Anthony Smith would tell you, there are no guarantees in life, so we'll certainly be terrified of the next two games as soon as we can figure out what exactly about the 3-10 Jets and 0-13 Dolphins terrifies us. Coach Bill will come up with something, we have no doubt.

AP Photo by Winslow Townson.