Week 3 Recap: 8 Key Takeaways from the Patriots’ Heartbreaking Loss to the Steelers

The young quarterback made a big impression during one of the Patriots’ fourth-down plays, connecting with tight end Hunter Henry for a touchdown. New England seemed to anticipate a cover two defense, allowing Henry to break free from the deep safeties. While this play resulted in a crucial 16-yard touchdown that tied the game, the quarterback’s overall performance has been inconsistent, reminiscent of his college days. The Patriots need him to play steadily and reduce turnovers to win consistently.

Meanwhile, the Patriots’ running backs had a tough outing. Rhamondre Stevenson, who struggled with fumbles last season, dropped the ball twice, and he wasn’t alone. Antonio Gibson added to the issue, and together they totaled three fumbles. Defenses are now targeting Stevenson because of these past issues. During a critical moment when the game was still within reach, Stevenson fumbled at the goal line, further compounding the team’s difficulties.

Steeler’s coach Mike Tomlin commented on Stevenson’s fumbling history, saying, “We’ve identified opportunities,” hinting at the focus on exploiting his mistakes. The Patriots turned to rookie TreVeyon Henderson to finish the game, but he faced his own struggles, particularly with blitz pickups. This is a common challenge for new players adjusting to the speed of the NFL. Overall, a position that should be a team strength became a liability during the game.

On defense, the Patriots had trouble against the Steelers’ quick passing game, led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He averaged just 2.45 seconds to release the ball, making it hard for New England’s pass rush to apply pressure. The defensive line includes talents like Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, who are capable of dominating games. However, teams are adapting their game plans to avoid their pressure, as seen during the Steelers’ opening drive when they ran effectively against the Patriots.

In the secondary, New England’s cornerbacks faced tough matchups against DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin. Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones were primarily responsible for covering them. Although they sometimes struggled, they managed to limit the damage, with each receiver scoring a touchdown. Meanwhile, Alex Austin, who has been inconsistent, was replaced by Charles Woods after some costly penalties.

An area of concern was pass protection. The offensive line allowed quarterback Maye to face pressure on 38.3% of his drop-backs. Rookie left tackle Will Campbell had a rough day against Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig, who recorded seven pressures. This lack of protection indicates the Patriots still have work to do, particularly in high-volume passing situations.

On a brighter note, head coach Mike Vrabel displayed a bold approach by opting to go for it on fourth down five times, converting four. Vrabel emphasized the need for aggressiveness in play-calling, believing that it gives his team a better chance to win. Interestingly, data from analytics expert Ben Baldwin supports his aggressive strategy, aligning with how the team is making these decisions.

As for special teams, it was a quiet day. The team did not attempt any field goals and only punted once, thanks to their aggressive fourth-down strategy. Rookie kicker Andy Borregales successfully made both extra points, marking an improvement after a shaky performance in the previous game. However, kickoff returns were less impressive, with the highest return being just 26 yards, showing the need for better production from this unit.

In summary, the Patriots have plenty to work on, from improving ball security to enhancing the offensive line’s performance. If they can address these issues, they might just turn things around.

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Game Observations,Postgame Analysis,Postgame-Content,Analysis,hp-article,hp-featured,Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots (2025-REG-3)