The Steelers head to Foxborough with a chance to move to 2-0, and the task in front of them is a tough one. New England is the defending AFC champion, but the Patriots already took a hit in Week 1, falling again to the Seattle Seahawks to open their 2026 season.
Pittsburgh is trying to hand the Super Bowl runner-up an 0-2 start, but that means beating a Patriots team that has had more than a week to get ready and is clearly looking to clean up the mess from its opener.
One of the biggest themes coming out of Aaron Rodgers’ weekly media availability was his desire to see Roman Wilson break through. Wilson’s rise from afterthought to trusted target has been one of the more striking developments, and he and Rodgers were close to landing a few big plays in Week 1.
That connection should finally cash in this week. Wilson was able to create separation in the opener and benefited from some very favorable matchups. Unless Michael Pittman Jr.’s recent foot injury keeps him out of Week 2, Wilson should see those same kinds of opportunities again.
This time, Rodgers won’t miss. A big play is coming for Wilson, and it could be the kind of moment that locks him into the Steelers’ passing game for the rest of the season.
Up front, starting left tackle Troy Fautanu was a non-participant in the team’s first practice ahead of Week 2, though there doesn’t appear to be much alarm inside the locker room. If he’s available, Pittsburgh can roll out the same five linemen from Week 1 and keep building the chemistry that could turn the group into a top unit.
If Fautanu can’t go, rookie Max Iheanachor would make his first start at right tackle.
Even if Fautanu does play, Iheanachor still looks headed for a meaningful role. Dylan Cook’s play in Week 1 left plenty to be desired, and Iheanachor is on the brink of getting his chance on the right side. Week 2 may be the moment it happens.
In the secondary, the Joey Porter Jr. situation is still hanging over the group, but Jamel Dean made a strong first impression in his team debut. He posted five tackles in the win and helped the defense limit explosive plays against the Atlanta Falcons.
Now he gets a bigger test. Dean is the kind of corner who showed last season why he ranked among the highest-graded coverage players at his position, and that makes his matchup with Drake Maye the one to watch. Maye threw three interceptions in the opener, but he also completed 72% of his passes in 2025.
That edge belongs to Dean right now, and the prediction here is that he comes up with his first turnover of the season against New England. Just like T.J. Watt’s pick-six sealed the win last week, Dean’s interception will be the play that puts this one away for Pittsburgh.
In Other News...
Steelers Hit With Two Costly Absences Ahead Of Patriots Trip
The Steelers head into their trip to New England dealing with a pair of absences that change both sides of the ball. Joey Porter Jr. is out while contract negotiations continue, and Michael Pittman Jr. will miss the game because of a foot injury, leaving Pittsburgh thinner at cornerback and taking away one of its receiving options before facing the Patriots.
Germie Bernard now looks set for a bigger role with Pittman Jr. sidelined, which gives the rookie a chance to make himself part of the conversation a little earlier than expected. For a Steelers team trying to stay steady on the road, the timing of these absences only adds to the challenge of getting through a tricky AFC test. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Wont Like What Joey Porter Jr. Might Be Worth
The contract picture around Joey Porter Jr. has become one of the more uncomfortable talking points in Pittsburgh, because the Steelers and the young corner still have not reached an extension agreement. For a team that has invested in developing Porter into a key part of its secondary, the lack of a deal has naturally led to trade speculation, even if nothing has been publicly finalized.
What may sting most for Steelers fans is the sense that the return would not match the talent or the expectations surrounding him. Early talk suggests Pittsburgh might only be looking at a second- or third-round pick if it ever got serious about moving him, which is a far cry from the kind of haul some around the league may have once imagined. For now, the situation is still unresolved, and the longer it drags on, the more it invites questions about where Porter fits in the Steelers' future. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Secondary Faces A Different Kind Of Test This Week
A.J. Brown landing on injured reserve changes the shape of Pittsburghs Week 2 assignment, but it does not make the Patriots passing game any easier to sort out. Mike Vrabel said Brown worked from multiple receiver spots, and with him out, New England is expected to spread those looks around, using players such as Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Romeo Doubs in different ways.
For the Steelers secondary, the challenge becomes less about tracking one featured target and more about adjusting to a receiver rotation that can shift from snap to snap. Browns absence removes a familiar centerpiece, but it also leaves Pittsburgh preparing for a more varied New England attack, which can be its own kind of test for a defensive backfield. [Read more 🡒]