While we werent jetting into the most glamorous city in the United States, you could argue that we were headed to the most glamorous match-up of the young NFL season.Even with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out injured (Fantasy football fans weep), Pittsburgh Steelers still possessed more than enough talent to keep the famed New England Patriots - led by Bill Belichick and Tom Brady - at bay.Pittsburgh is known as the Steel City thanks to its history of more than 300 steel-related businesses operating around the city. As we caught an Uber to lunch before the big game, I could see this was a blue-collar city with not a cent wasted on art or grand constructions like you see in New York, Los Angeles or Las Vegas, among others.Pittsburgh is a passionate and highly successful sporting town.The Steelers have a history and tradition of success that is as rich and honourable as any team in the NFL whilst the neighbouring Pittsburgh Pirates of the MLB have an enormous fan-base and play out of what has often been described as baseballs most picturesque stadium, PNC Park in downtown Pittsburgh.On the ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins share a piece of the locals hearts, particularly after last seasons Stanley Cup victory. They have one of hockeys prime-time performers in Sidney Crosby and he is synonymous with success and stardom in the NHL. He was the number one overall selection to the Penguins in 2005 and is now the captain, having delivered the city two championships in that span. The Pens have called Pittsburgh home since 1967 and unlike some NHL franchises which battle for relevance up against the NFL, NBA and collegiate sports, Crosby and the Penguins are a driving force in the Steel City.Now - back to Belichick, Brady and the big game.Heinz Field rests on the banks of the Ohio River and is - like most pro stadiums across the NFL - a magnificent venue to watch sport. ESPN lists Heinz Fields capacity at 65,000 so you will believe me when I say the atmosphere was electric because more 66,009 people crammed into the arena to catch this game.Roethlisberger is a Hall of Fame-bound quarterback so his absence was going to be felt at some stage - that much was sure. But with All-Pro running back LeVeon Bell (who we will get to later!) and arguably the games premier wide receiver Antonio Brown, the Steelers had a real shot.But the Patriots werent 5-1 coming into the game for nothing and Brady, aided by former Steeler LeGarrette Blount and superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski, always managed to stay just out of reach of the Steelers defence whilst reserve QB Landry Jones just could not manage to keep up with TB12.In the end, a highly enjoyable game to watch ended with a New England road win, 27-16, which could have been much closer had a Darius Heyward-Bey touchdown not been called back for holding as well as two missed field goals from kicker Chris Boswell.So, as they always do, the Patriots made just enough plays to get the job done and jetted back to Foxborough with another win.For us, our day was just getting started thanks to Australian punter Jordan Berry who performed his role extremely well on the day.Jordan came through former Brisbane Bear and Collingwood player Nathan Chapmans punting academy, Pro Kick Australia, before becoming an elite college boomer at Eastern Kentucky University. Jordan was kind enough to have us at the game as well as have giving us an exclusive on-field experience after the game.I spoke to Chappy about what it meant for him to see Jordan live in the NFL;Jordan punted four times on the day including one booming 55-yard bomb that landed just in front of where Hannah and I were seated.Also in town to watch Berry were former Louisiana State University punter Jamie Keehn and Utah University star Tom Hackett who won the Ray Guy Award as the NCAAs best punter in 2014 and 2015. Tom tried out with the New York Jets this pre-season and looms likely as Australias next Aussie in the NFL.It was phenomenal for us fanatics to just let the boys talk American football and their experiences while we listened intently and threw in the odd question.Getting onto the turf at Heinz Field was magical. Enormous stands surrounded us that on Sundays, are filled with the most parochial, passionate fans sport can offer up.As we walked to the car park underneath the grandstands, a very familiar face strolled a few metres behind us.Superstar running back LeVeon Bell. (I told you we would get to him)Bell was casually making his way out of the arena so after some moments of trepidation, we decided to jump in and ask for a photo. Bell politely obliged and the rest is history!Like we had done for lunch, the Aussie crew of around 10 headed to The Cheesecake Factory near Jordans house for a great dinner and debrief of the days events.A huge thank you must go to Jordan for his willingness to host everyone during such an important game. He was open, friendly and more than happy to provide a few fans with a unique and memorable experience. He is sure to go far in the NFL.Next stop is Florida (namely Miami, Orlando and Tampa) so we have a small break in the travel diaries before we finish off the trip in style with Thursday Night Football in Tampa between the Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons then onto Baton Rouge for what will arguably be the biggest, most passionate game of NCAA football this season - LSU versus Alabama in Death Valley.Stay tuned to my social media platforms for on-going photos and fun from the holiday of a lifetime. Im glad I can share it with everyone!JJ Trent Taylor Super Bowl Jersey . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Roger Craig Super Bowl Jersey . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. http://www.authenticsf49erspro.com/Jason-verrett-49ers-jersey/ . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. KWaun Williams Super Bowl Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Kentavius Street Super Bowl Jersey . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals enter their home opener Saturday night as the defending Presidents Trophy winners, but still in pursuit of their first Stanley Cup.After rolling to 120 points -- 11 more than any other team -- the Capitals were eliminated in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals by their rivals and eventual cup winners, the Pittsburgh Penguins.The Capitals opened this season Thursday night in the same building where last season ended and endured a similar result, dropping a 3-2 decision at Pittsburgh in a game decided by a shootout.Trailing 2-1 after two periods, Washington tied it in the third and had several chances in overtime.I thought we had a good third period and I thought the 3-on-3 we were very good, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said.Washington looks to carry that momentum into Saturday night against an Islanders team it went 3-0-1 against last season.Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby made 28 saves against Pittsburg and right winger Andre Burakovsky scored twice while playing on the second line with Marcus Johansson and center Nicklas Backstrom.I think all three of us are thinking the same way. Me and (Johansson) have a lot of speed on the outside and Nicki is probably the smartest player in the league, Burakovsky said. I think we have a lot of chemistry and well see a lot from it.Trotz added: That was by far our best line I thought tonight. All the other lines had spurts where they were okay, but they werent as consistent as that line.Rookie Zach Sanford, 21, made his NHL debut against Pittsburgh on the third line with center Lars Eller, who was acquired via trade from the Canadians in the offseason, and right winger Justin Williams.In 41 career games against the Islanders, Alex Ovechkin has 32 goals and 15 assists, whhile Backstrom has 24 assists in 31 games.dddddddddddd Holtby is 10-1-3 with a 2.21 career goals against average versus New York.In their opener Thursday night, the Islanders rallied to tie the Rangers at 2 early in the third period before dropping a 5-3 decision at Madison Square Garden.There could be some changes, Islanders coach Jack Capuano told NHL.com. We got guys hanging around here. We cant go with six defensemen. Its impossible to have six defensemen on your roster. We have to give other guys an opportunity here to find out early and see what we want to do on the back end.The Islanders got goals from Nick Leddy, Cal Clutterbuck and Brock Nelson.The Rangers went 1-for-5 on the power play while the Islanders failed in three attempts.Obviously even strength, it was a close game, Capuano said. Shots were 25-25. They pounded pucks on their power play. There were 12 shots on their power play and they got the big goal when they needed it.New York now faces a Washington team that cashed in 21.9 percent (fifth best in the NHL) of its power play chances last season.In his first action since March 8 of last season due to a groin injury, Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves against the Rangers.Saturday night marks a homecoming for Jason Chimera, who spent seven seasons with Washington before signing with the Islanders as a free agent in the offseason.His line, including center John Tavares and fellow free-agent signee Andrew Ladd, was scoreless Thursday night.Ladd has 14 goals and 19 assists in 42 games against Washington while Tavares owns 12 goals and 12 assists in 25 contests. Halak is 6-6-0 with a 2.73 goals against average versus the Capitals. ' ' '