Can the mighty Patriots bounce back?

A few Superbowl credentials will be answered this weekend with the third round of NFL games, the biggest of which concerns the defending champions, the New England Patriots as they travel to Pittsburgh to play the confident, unbeaten Steelers.

Steelers quarter-back Ben Roethlisberger has led his team to two impressive wins in their first two games of the season but there is a case to say that they could not be facing the Patriots at a worse time. Their pride wounded from last week's defeat by Carolina, they will be doubly determined to get back on track immediately with a win. It's not going to be easy, though with the Steelers full of confidence.

Roethlisberger, who was a revelation at quarter-back last season, has only ever lost just one game, but ominously for him, that was a 41-27 victory for the Patriots in Pittsburgh last season. On that occasions, he was intercepted three times and the Patriots took advantage of every error. Tom Brady, whose coolness has been a key factor in the Patriots' three Superbowl wins in the last four years, had a poor game by his own immaculate standards against Carolina. He rarely has two bad games in a row, though and the Steelers are well aware of his capabilities.

This year's Patriots team is a changed line-up from the dominant ones of the past three seasons but they have an amazing knack of doing exactly what is required when they need it most. Carolina are a strong team this year and that loss is far from a disgrace, even if they would have expected to win.

Should the Steelers win on Sunday night, they will make it 16 regular season wins in a row, while the Patriots haven't lost consecutive games in almost three years.

The handicap betting is always interesting in the NFL and the fact that bet365 offer Bill Belichick's side a three-point start makes them more appealing than I would have expected. Their price of 19-20 is not at all bad.