Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sideline during the second half against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Al Bello,Getty Images)
New England Patriots fans cheer during the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Patrick Smith, Getty Images)
Charles Krupa, The Associated PressNew England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett celebrates with cheerleaders after the AFC championship NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the the Steelers 36-17 to advance to the Super Bowl.
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots reacts after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to win the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount holds the AFC championship trophy surrounded by fans after the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
A member of the End Zone Militia carries a flag after the AFC championship NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the the Steelers 36-17 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New England Patriots players celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to win the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Maddie Meyer, Getty ImagesRobert Kraft, owner and CEO of the New England Patriots, celebrates with the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to win the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.
Jim Nantz interviews Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots after the Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to win the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
New England Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan (26) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Eli Rogers (17) during the second half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Ross Cockrell #31 and Bud Dupree #48 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Maddie Meyer, Getty ImagesChris Hogan of the New England Patriots carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier (50) tackles New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Maddie Meyer, Getty ImagesTom Brady of the New England Patriots attempts a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.
Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave (79) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots defensive back Eric Rowe (25) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Cobi Hamilton (83) during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Jim Rogash, Getty ImagesChris Hogan of the New England Patriots celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.
Logan Ryan #26 of the New England Patriots attempts to break up a pass inteded for Cobi Hamilton #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Dion Lewis #33 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Ryan Shazier #50 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots reacts against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs against New England Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan (26) during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) runs after catching a pass during the second half of the AFC championship NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) makes a touchdown reception during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots reacts during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
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Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sideline during the second half against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Al Bello,Getty Images)
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By Glen Barber | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED:
Getting your player ready...
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Tom Brady redemption tour is headed to the Super Bowl.
After beginning the 2016 season suspended for four games for his role in the “Deflategate” scandal, the New England quarterback relentlessly carried the Patriots to an unprecedented ninth appearance in the title game, and his seventh.
Brady threw for a franchise playoff-best 384 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday in New England’s sixth consecutive AFC championship game.
The Patriots, who have won nine in a row, are early 3-point favorites heading to face Atlanta in two weeks in Houston, seeking their fifth NFL title with Brady at quarterback and Bill Belichick as coach. Belichick’s seventh appearance in a Super Bowl will be a record for a head coach.
