Sometimes you run into a team that's just built to make your life miserable, and that's exactly what Pittsburgh did on Sunday. The Steelers came into Gillette Stadium and imposed their will in a bruising 21-14 win that left the Patriots battered, frustrated, and sitting at 1-2 through three weeks.
The Steelers' pass rush was the difference. Four sacks on the afternoon, constant pressure, and a front seven that lived in the backfield from the opening snap. Drake Maye never had time to set his feet, and when he did find a window, the quick-hitting routes weren't enough to sustain drives. The Patriots managed just 256 total yards and a paltry 67 rushing yards against one of the most physical fronts in football.
Penalties made everything worse. Eight flags for 65 yards, including a couple of drive-killing holding calls that wiped out first downs at the worst possible moments. You cannot beat a disciplined team like Pittsburgh when you're shooting yourself in the foot every other series. It's just not going to happen.
The defense deserves some credit for keeping it a one-score game deep into the fourth quarter. They gave the offense every chance to tie it up, but the final drive sputtered out near midfield and that was the ballgame.
Dropping to 1-2 stings, but this team showed fight. They didn't quit, they didn't fold, and they went toe-to-toe with a legitimate contender. Clean up the penalties, protect the quarterback better, and this team can still make some noise. Carolina comes to town next week — time to get right.