FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Steelers snapped the Patriots’ spell over them with a plan that has worked all season: knock ’em down, steal the ball and keep them from gaining yards.

Pittsburgh’s top-ranked defense got rolling in the second half, leading the Steelers to a 33-10 win on a cold and rainy Sunday, only their second victory in eight games against New England.

‘‘We heard a lot of talk about it being a rivalry,’’ Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. ‘‘It hasn’t been much of a rivalry until you win some. That’s what we talked about coming up here.’’

The Steelers outscored the Patriots 23-0 in the second half when they had all five of their takeaways and four of their five sacks and gave up 81 yards to a team that had gained more than 500 in each of its two previous games.

‘‘They had to start passing the ball and we didn’t have to sit back and try and guess what they were doing,’’ said James Harrison, who sacked Matt Cassel twice, forcing fumbles.