Roethlisberger: Steelers must be 'as good as we've ever been' to beat Patriots

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not taking lightly the challenge of playing the New England Patriots Sunday in the AFC Championship game.

"They're the best in the world,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday.  “They're the gold standard, if you will."

Rothlisberger will be playing in his fifth AFC Championship game, with a chance to go to his fourth Super Bowl.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will be trying to win a fifth Super Bowl. Asked about playing against Brady, Roethlisberger told reporters that the game is bigger than the two superstar quarterbacks.

Roethlisberger also knows that as the underdog, this is the Steelers' chance to beat the best.

"We are going to have to be as good as we've ever been to beat this team," Roethlisberger said.

The Steelers head into Sunday’s game on a nine-game winning streak, and running back LeVeon Bell said it’s because they’ve paid attention to “details.”

Safety Mike Mitchell said he needs to be “disciplined” when he faces Brady.

"You don't take anything for granted,” Mitchell said. “It's gonna be business as usual for us."

Bell was also asked about teammate Antonio Brown's Facebook Live video in the locker room, which the NFL is reviewing.

"I talked to him. He obviously wasn't doing anything to hurt anybody," Bell said.

Brown began streaming live via Facebook on Sunday from the Steelers’ locker room after the team won its playoff game against Kansas City.

The All-Pro wide receiver also happened to catch coach Mike Tomlin indelicately describing the Patriots. Brown took to social media Tuesday night to post an apology.

Cox Media Group