The New England Patriots are walking into Week 2 with a clear test waiting for them up front, and Will Campbell knows exactly what that looks like.
The Steelers bring heat off the edge and muscle on the interior, with T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward standing as the headliners.
Campbell didn’t dance around it. He called them “dudes.”
And that, in his view, is just part of the job for an NFL tackle.
“Every week, our position at offensive tackle, (there) is gonna be a dude across from you,” he said. “They just have more than one.
But it's (the) same process, each and every week. Just tryna be as consistent as I possibly can be, and lot of respect for those guys.
Look forward to Sunday.”
That word - consistent - keeps coming up for Campbell, and it makes sense. New England has spent years searching for a line that can hold together from week to week, and Campbell’s second season is already pointing toward that kind of steadiness. He was strong in the opener against the Seattle Seahawks, giving up only one pressure and looking solid on the left side before the Patriots came up short in a 13-10 loss.
Campbell isn’t carrying that result into this week.
“It’s only Week 2. Long season to go,” Campbell said.
“Lot of growth to be made, and we've been in this position before. I have full faith in everybody in this locker room, all the coaches.
Just excited to get back out there this week.”
Sunday also gives the Patriots a chance to answer last year’s home loss to Pittsburgh, a game that got away from them after five turnovers. The mistakes piled up, including one at the goal line, and the Steelers walked out with the win.
Campbell wants a different scene this time around, especially with the home crowd back in the mix.
“Yeah, I think it'll be fun,” Campbell said. “Last year, it was raining, so hopefully this year it doesn't rain and we get a good crowd out there.
Play well and give them something to cheer for. ... I'm excited, I'm excited to get out there.”
For New England, the assignment is bigger than one matchup. Campbell’s ability to protect Drake Maye and help create room for Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson matters to how this offense functions over the long haul. A win in Week 2 would also keep the Patriots from staring at an 0-2 start before games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.
Campbell put the mission in simple terms.
“All I care about is winning,” he said. “That's all that matters to me.”
And if the Patriots are going to get it done, a lot of it will come down to how well Campbell handles those dudes in front of him.
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