FOXBORO - The Patriots get their shot to clean up the mess from Week 1, and they’ll do it back home against a Steelers team that arrives at 1-0.
New England has had a full week to sit with its loss in Seattle, but the focus now shifts to what comes next in front of its own crowd. Vrabel made that point plainly: "We appreciate our fans.
They're fantastic," Vrabel said. "They're knowledgeable.
We have to give them things to cheer about."
The Patriots may be missing pieces again. A.J.
Brown (ankle) is out for the next four weeks, and Carton Davis is also potentially unavailable with a neck issue and is questionable. Even so, New England still has a path to its first win of the season.
The bigger question is how the offense adjusts without Brown. He had been part of a group that looked strong in practice all summer, but now the Patriots need a different setup. Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams are all positioned for bigger roles, and how they handle that expanded workload could shape Drake Maye’s response after a rough opener.
Maye has a chance to rebound after a Week 1 performance that went sideways in the fourth quarter, when he threw three interceptions on consecutive drives against Seattle. This matchup with a Pittsburgh defense described as middle of the pack gives him a chance to settle in and put together one of the better outings of his career.
There should also be a boost on the ground. After sitting out the season opener with an ankle injury, Henderson is expected back against Pittsburgh.
New England’s rushing game never really found its footing last week, and Henderson’s agility and burst were part of what was missing. With him cleared to practice and play, the Patriots can get him involved early and open up an offense that felt too limited a week ago.
Defensively, the assignment is no easier. Aaron Rodgers has had New England’s number in recent meetings, and D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. have the kind of speed and big-play ability that can stress a secondary that may be without its second-best cornerback.
Still, there’s a sense this game could unfold in a familiar way. Not a shootout.
Not a track meet. More like a tighter, possession-by-possession fight with a few decisive moments.
The Patriots believe Maye can bounce back, the defense can make one last stand, and the result can wash away the sting from Seattle.
The last time these teams met, Pittsburgh won 21-14 and the final margin could have been worse. New England coughed the ball up five times, including four fumbles. Rhamondre Stevenson had just seven touches and lost the ball twice, while Maye also gave it away twice.
That’s the shadow hanging over this one. The Patriots have a chance to show that game was a one-off, not a warning sign. One year later, they’ll be trying to make sure the turnover problems stay in the past.
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Patriots Catch A Break As Steelers Passing Attack Suddenly Changes
Michael Pittman Jr. being ruled out for the Steelers matchup with the Patriots changes the shape of this game before it even kicks off. Pittman had led Pittsburgh in receiving yards in Week 1, so his absence trims a key part of the passing game and shifts more of the burden onto the rest of the receiving group.
For New England, the adjustment matters because it alters where the danger may come from, with DK Metcalf now carrying even more of the spotlight. The Steelers will still have options in Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard and Pat Freiermuth, but the Patriots can prepare knowing one of Pittsburghs most productive early-season targets wont be on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Perfection Buzz Puts Patriots In A Spot Fans Will Hate
Buffalos hot start has already turned the AFC East into familiar territory for Patriots fans, only this time the conversation is about something much bigger than a division race. The Bills are 2-0, Josh Allen is rolling early and some analysts are looking at the schedule and wondering whether this team has a path to a perfect 17-0 season, a mark no NFL club has ever reached.
For New England, the buzz is less about admiration than the uncomfortable possibility of watching a longtime rival chase history while the Patriots are left to react. There are still tests ahead for Buffalo, and the defense has already given up 31 points in each of the first two games, but the idea alone is enough to make the rest of the AFC East pay close attention. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Face A Dangerous Problem In Steelers Matchup
Carlton Davis being ruled out for the Patriots home opener changes the tone of a matchup that already had some bite to it. A neck injury will keep the veteran corner from taking the field against the Steelers, leaving New England to sort through a secondary that now leans more heavily on less experienced options. The absence is especially notable because no practice squad elevations were made after the status change, so the Patriots will have to work with what they already have on hand.
It is a sudden complication for a defense that was counting on Davis to help steady things on the back end, even as the Steelers arrive with a key wide receiver also out. The Patriots still get the benefit of playing at home, but the missing corner creates an immediate stress test for a group that will have to hold up against a physical opponent without one of its more established pieces. [Read more 🡒]