Tom Brady views Patriots' loss as wake-up call before Steelers game

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said his team's ugly loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday night can serve as a proper wake-up call and learning curve heading into Sunday's showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. 

"I think you can always learn more from losses than wins because you more critically evaluate where you're at, what expectations are, and what's needed to get the job done," Brady said Tuesday morning on WEEI Sports Radio Network in Boston. "I think everybody took (the loss to Miami) very hard. The locker room was not in good spirits, and the plane ride home was very quiet.

"But there's always the ability to learn from it. I think we've always felt that one loss shouldn't become two." 

Since 2001, when Brady became the starting quarterback, New England's record following losses is 40-11. Brady described the Patriots' performance against Miami as "out of sync" and "just a bad night."

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"I pretty much moved past it midway through the flight after I watched film of the game," Brady said. "I tried to move on. It doesn't feel good obviously, but there's nothing you can do about it, you can't change it. Gotta be able to focus on what's next."

What's next is a road clash against the Steelers (11-2), who are riding an eight-game win streak and who Brady said might be the best team in the NFL. If New England wins Sunday, it controls its playoff fate in the bid for home-field advantage. 

"Playing a team like Pittsburgh, playing a style like we played (Monday night) where we don't convert well ... I think all those things come back to really get you. We've gotta do a lot better this week and hone in on what we really need to do."

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