Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gets ready to pass as he eludes Steelers linebacker Joey Porter. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        FOXBORO, Mass. — Tom Brady remains the same. It's just the supporting cast that's changed for the New England Patriots.

        Brady led New England to a 30-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, passing for 294 yards and touchdowns to Christian Fauria, Donald Hayes and Deion Branch, none of whom were with the Patriots last season during their surprising run to the Super Bowl.

        It was a huge start to the season for the Patriots as they opened the new Gillette Stadium against the team they upset 24-17 on the road in the AFC championship game last season. Pittsburgh entered as both a favorite to win the conference title and as a 3-point favorite on the road against the defending champions.

        But Brady, an obscure backup who ended up as Super Bowl MVP after taking over in the second game for an injured Drew Bledsoe, demonstrated that rather than a fluke, he belongs among the game's elite quarterbacks.

        Throwing 25 straight times during the second and third quarters, he broke open a 10-7 game with two TD passes in the first half of a 17-point third quarter as New England ran up a 30-7 lead before Kordell Stewart scored from a yard out on the last play of the game.

        One went for 40 yards to Hayes, a free-agent signing, and the second to Branch, the Patriots' second-round draft choice.

        “The three guys we didn't have last year came up big,” Brady said.

        Coach Bill Belichick was asked why they passed so much, and he replied with a laugh: “We wanted to establish the run.

        “You take whatever morsels you can get,” he added. “We spread 'em out and found a way to make plays.”

        New England's defense also was sparked by newcomers.

        Veteran cornerback Terrell Buckley, signed just last week, had two of the three New England interceptions, and Victor Green, one of the many ex-New York Jets on the Pats, forced and then recovered a fumble by Jerome Bettis that set up a TD. It was the first fumble by Bettis in 760 carries.

        Other than Brady, who completed 29 of 43 passes, the only Patriots hero from last season to contribute to the scoring was Adam Vinatieri, who kicked the 48-yard field goal that won the Super Bowl. He had field goals of 45, 28 and 27 yards.

        The first half was tight.

        Mike Vrabel's interception of Stewart at the Pittsburgh 26 that led to Brady's 4-yard TD pass to Fauria, signed as a free agent from Seattle.

        The Steelers, who had five turnovers, came right back to tie it, going 10 plays in 74 yards helped by a 23-yard pass interference call on Ty Law. The TD came on a 13-yard pass from Stewart to Hines Ward.

        Pittsburgh reached the New England 1 midway through the second period, but was set back by 25 yards in penalties and Todd Peterson's 39-yard field-goal attempt was wide left.

        On the Patriots' next drive, Vinatieri connected from 45 yards to give New England a 10-7 lead with 2:23 left in the half.

        The Patriots made it 17-7 1:33 into the second half.

        Brady was sacked on the first play, but then hit Cam Cleeland for 8 yards, David Patten for 37, then found Hayes for the score. Hayes broke a tackle and got a block from Branch to get into the end zone.

        Then came Bettis' fumble that set up the TD to Branch.

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