Patriots Close Out Game With Strong Running Drive

Taking over with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter, the Patriots ran it all the way down, as a handful of key chunk running plays forced the Steelers to use up their timeouts. Damien Harris picked up a first down under two minutes, sealing the victory.

The Patriots are now 1-1 on the season after going into Pittsburgh and making the handful of key plays needed to win the game. “Ups & Downs” and more postgame coverage coming soon here at 985TheSportsHub.com.

Keep scrolling for a recap of the game’s top highlights, and our live analysis & updates from the game.

Steelers Score Response Touchdown

Disappointing possession by the Patriots defense to follow up the Pats’ last touchdown off the muffed punt. The Steelers gained 18, 14, and 13 yards on three separate plays on their ensuing drive, and Mitch Trubisky capped it with a pinpoint touchdown pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth.

Diontae Johnson was just barely in bounds on the two-point conversion, which now makes it a three-point game.

Steelers Threatening At Start Of Fourth Quarter

Pittsburgh is on the verge of a strong response to the Patriots’ last touchdown. They made a handful of chunk plays to get into the red zone, and they’ll start the fourth quarter with third-and-4 from the Patriots’ 8-yard line. Huge play coming up.

Ja’Whaun Bentley (Back) Questionable To Return

Patriots Turn Steelers Muffed Punt Into Touchdown

Huge sequence in the game. The Patriots had given the ball up with a punt, but ex-Patriot Gunner Olszewski muffs it right off his facemask. Brenden Schooler is right there to fall on it for the Pats, who take over and score a touchdown with Damien Harris on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line. It’s now 17-6 Patriots.

Potentially a back-breaking turn of events for the Steelers. Prior to the punt, Mac Jones made an ill-advised throw that should’ve been a gimme interception for Cameron Sutton, but the cornerback dropped it.

Pats Hold Steelers To Field Goal

Despite starting the drive near midfield, the Steelers could only come away with three points, but cut the Patriots’ lead to 10-6.

Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, who is getting more playing time in the wake of Kyle Dugger’s knee injury, made two impressive open-field tackles to stall out the Steelers’ drive. Nice job by Peppers to be ready for when his number was called.

Kyle Dugger (Knee) Questionable To Return

HALFTIME: Patriots 10, Steelers 3

Some notes from the first half of Patriots-Steelers…

— Mac Jones looks shaky overall. And it’s stood out more than usual because he’s actually had time to throw so far today. But an ill-advised deep ball for an interception, penalties for intentional grounding and delay of game, and a few off-the-mark throws make this a meh effort so far. Even on Jones’ touchdown to Nelson Agholor, it required a ridiculous play by the receiver to snatch the ball away from Ahkello Witherspoon, who was close to a pick there.

— Very good defensive day so far for the Patriots. Yes, Mitch Trubisky and Diontae Johnson have connected for a few longer throws, but the Pats must feel like they’ll take a handful of plays made against them if it means they’re forcing Trubisky to throw. They’ve done a great job to keep Trubisky in the pocket, and on the Jalen Mills interception, he and Mack Wilson were in the perfect spot to make the play.

— DeVante Parker with another quiet half offensively. You have to wonder if he’ll last playing almost every snap, at this rate. Agholor, Jakobi Meyers, and Kendrick Bourne all have catches already.

Agholor Scores Spectacular Late First-Half TD

Nelson Agholor just made the best catch of the young season by a Patriot so far. On a deep ball that looked slightly underthrown with potential for a pick, Nelson Agholor goes up and gets the ball away from Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and stays on his feet to finish off the touchdown. Patriots lead 10-3.

It was another questionable throw by Jones, who hasn’t looked particularly sharp so far. But it’s certainly a play he’ll take.

Davon Godchaux (Back) Questionable To Return

Patriots Sack Trubisky To Force Field Goal

Potentially a huge play for the Patriots defense at this stage of the game. On third-and-4, linebacker Jalani Tavai blows up pass-protector Najee Harris and gets to Mitch Trubisky for the sack. Lawrence Guy broke through initially, which forced Trubisky up into the pocket, and Tavai was there to bring him down. Nice complementary defensive football by the Patriots.

However, Chris Boswell’s field goal try is good, so the game is now tied 3-3.

Mac Jones Throws Second Interception Of Season

Mac Jones would like to have this play back. On third-and-5 he heaves it deep for DeVante Parker with two defensive backs in the area, one of which is dangerous safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The latter went up and got the ball for the interception, certainly a forgettable play for the Pats.

Mills Intercepts Trubisky

Patriots cornerback Jalen Mills just reeled in the team’s first interception of the eason. First, inside linebacker Mack Wilson got his hands on the ball to tip it over the head of Diontae Johnson, then Mills was there behind the receiver to catch the ball for the pick.

It was a horrible decision by Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky to throw in that area in the first place, but great defensive awareness by the Patriots to have their guys in the right spot and ready to make the play. Wilson makes an immediate impact in pass coverage, as the Patriots’ best bet to do that at linebacker.

Patriots Defensive Touchdown Overturned

The call on the field was a fumble recovery and touchdown by the Patriots, but officials were able to reverse the call upon review. They later ruled that Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson caught the ball and was down by contact, so the Steelers retain the ball.

Patriots Score 3 On Opening Drive

The Patriots just completed a 13-play, 71-yard drive with a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. They’ll have to hope that a third-down delay of game penalty, which made it third-and-13, doesn’t come back to bite them after they failed to reach the end zone. But it was a solid-looking drive for Mac Jones, who was 5-of-7 for 53 yards on the drive. Now, we see how they do post-scripted drive…

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