Game Summary
The Patriots opened with a brutal Rhamondre Stevenson fumble, setting the tone for a mistake-filled afternoon. The Steelers wasted no time cashing in with a Kenneth Gainwell touchdown to make it 7-0. After a quick Patriots punt, Pittsburgh struck again on a DK Metcalf score for a 14-0 lead.
New England finally answered with a steady drive capped by Hunter Henry’s touchdown to cut it to 14-7. Momentum looked like it was shifting when the Patriots marched 17 plays before halftime, but it ended in crushing fashion with an interception in the end zone off a tipped pass at the line.
The defense gave them another lifeline to open the second half, picking off Aaron Rodgers and setting the offense up at the Steelers’ 11. Two plays later, Stevenson fumbled again, this time at the goal line. From there, the game unraveled.
An Antonio Gibson fumble only added to the mess, though a clutch fourth-down strike to Henry tied it at 14. But late mistakes proved costly. Drake Maye fumbled on a key fourth-quarter drive with a chance to take the lead, and the Steelers answered with a Calvin Austin III touchdown to go ahead 21-14 with just over two minutes remaining.
The Patriots still had one last shot, driving into Pittsburgh territory before facing a must-have fourth down. Pop Douglas caught the ball right at the sticks, turned backward, and came up short. This ending summed up a sloppy, self-inflicted 21-14 loss.
Turnover Battle
The Patriots came painfully close to becoming the first team since 2013 to win a game with a turnover differential of minus-four. That’s what makes this loss so frustrating: it should have been a big win in New England’s favor. Two turnovers right at the goal line alone are a 14-point swing. Add in the drive-killing fumbles that handed the Steelers prime field position, and suddenly, a winnable game slips away.
This has to be fixed. Rhamondre Stevenson led the NFL with seven fumbles last season, and Patriots fans were hoping those issues were in the past. Clearly, they aren’t. In today’s NFL, it’s nearly impossible to win if you can’t at least break even in the turnover battle.
Limiting turnovers will be a significant emphasis at practice throughout the week as the Patriots prepare for their matchup against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Mike Vrabel Wants to be Aggressive
The Patriots went for it five times on fourth down Sunday, converting the first four before Pop Douglas was tackled just short on the final attempt. It was a stark contrast from Week 1, when punting on a crucial fourth down against the Raiders had fans questioning Mike Vrabel’s aggressiveness. Those concerns have been put to rest, as Vrabel kept trusting his offense in big spots. Credit also goes to Josh McDaniels, who dialed up the right plays to keep the chains moving.
Drake Maye was Good, Not Great
Drake Maye doesn’t deserve most of the blame for the loss, but he deserves some. For much of the game, he was excellent, making plays, keeping drives alive, and giving the offense a spark. If not for two mistakes, this could have been one of the best performances of his career. Unfortunately, those mistakes changed everything.
The first came on a 17-play drive before halftime, one of the most impressive series the Patriots have put together in years. They reached the three-yard line, only for a tipped pass at the line to turn into an interception in the end zone. Maye cannot control the deflection or the play call, but interceptions in that situation cannot happen. The best quarterbacks find ways to avoid those turnovers.
The second mistake came late when indecisiveness in the pocket led to a fumble. Too often, Maye freezes under pressure, hesitating instead of scrambling, throwing it away, or even taking a sack. That tendency to try to do too much cost the Patriots again.
Overall, Maye played a strong game, but those two critical errors turned what could have been a breakout performance into a frustrating loss.
Bounce Back vs. Carolina
I expect the Patriots to bounce back against the Panthers on Sunday. It is hard to imagine them committing five turnovers again, and the way the offense moved the ball gives me confidence that they can keep that going. The Panthers’ defense is not one to fear, and I think New England will take advantage. My prediction is a 24-14 Patriots win.
