The New England Patriots (6-1) defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) 27-16 on Sunday at Heinz Field in a matchup of two AFC powerhouses. The game lacked the shootout factor that many fans were anticipating with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recovering from surgery on his knee, but it was still competitive nonetheless. Antonio Brown had over 100 reception yards and Le’Veon Bell had over 100 total yards for Pittsburgh. But those performances weren’t enough to overcome Legarrette Blount and Rob Gronkowski as the Patriots marched forward on their quest for the number one overall seed in the AFC.
New England Patriots Week Seven Takeaways
Patriots Defense Looked Weak against Pittsburgh’s Playmakers
If there was one thing the Patriots did wrong this week, it was failing to shut down Pittsburgh’s dangerous playmakers. Le’Veon Bell had 149 yards of total offense and was effective in both the running and passing game. Antonio Brown had seven receptions on 11 targets for 106 yards. While neither scored touchdowns, both players had their way with the Patriots defense.
New England’s ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ philosophy on defense was in full effect without Roethlisberger under center. If Big Ben had played Sunday, the score could have been very different. Roethlisberger has the ability to change the outcomes of games by how he can avoid pressure and find his receivers down field. Landry Jones just doesn’t have the same influence on games, and it showed in the Steelers ultimate inability to put points on the board.
Taking on opposing teams’ star players will definitely be something the Patriots work on as the season progresses. One of the biggest reasons for Patriot losses in the playoffs over the years has been their failure to execute a plan to stop star players.
Running the Ball is Still Important to Patriots Success
Blount has had at least 20 touches and one touchdown in four games this season, but Sunday marked the first time this happened since Tom Brady returned two weeks ago against the Cleveland Browns.
The Patriots have numerous offensive weapons and Blount and James White are a dangerous backfield combination. This was on full display Sunday, as Blount notched a season high 127 yards on 24 carries against the Steelers
As the season progresses, the Patriots will no doubt pass the ball more than they will run it. But Blount is a threat in any goal line situation and he will remain a surprise for any defense that guesses pass-first.
Third Down Defense Much Better than Season Average
Prior to Sunday’s game, the Patriots were allowing opponents to move the chains on 44% of third downs. Against the Big Ben-less Steelers, the Patriots were better in this area. The Steelers made 17 first downs on the afternoon, but were only 5-16 (31%) on third down. This allowed New England’s defense to end drives earlier than usual and stay energized throughout the entire game.
Third down efficiency has been a big part of each Patriots game this season despite their 6-1 record. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has a lot to work on, but he can breathe a sigh of relief after holding one of the Patriots main AFC opponents to just 16 points and only five third down conversions.
Last Word
The Patriots were lucky to not have Roethlisberger on the field on Sunday. His ability to lead his team to victories has been equivalent to that of Brady over the years. Nobody missed Big Ben more than Brown, who has never caught an NFL touchdown from a quarterback not named Roethlisberger. This trend continued Sunday, and that could have played a large factor in how the game played out.
As well as the Patriots played, their victory was in part thanks to Pittsburgh’s miscues. Mike Tomlin‘s team missed field goals and doubled the Patriots in number of penalties. Those miscues put the Steelers in less-than-advantageous field position for most of the afternoon. Long third downs and handing the ball over to the Patriots at their own 40-yard line made it easy for the Patriots defense to get off the field and set up the offense with as short a field as possible.
The Steelers miscues shouldn’t overshadow the great performances of certain members of the Patriots, however. On top of Blount’s successes, Brady had a 124.2 passer rating and Gronkowski had four catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. All of this bodes well for the Patriots as they prepare to face the Buffalo Bills for the second time this season next Sunday.
A win over the Steelers was crucial for the Patriots, as it is quickly becoming evident that New England will make the playoffs and most likely have a first-round bye. A win over the Bills next Sunday is the next important step in obtaining one of those top-two seeds in the AFC, as well as maintaining a lead in the AFC East.
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