“With little more than pride at stake, the New England Patriots delivered a gritty performance in a 21-18 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Showcasing to a national audience, the Patriots demonstrated that playing hard hasn’t been an issue this season, with most of their games being closely contested. The challenge has been executing and making crucial plays in clutch moments, a hurdle they finally overcame against the Steelers, though just barely.
In a scorching first half, where they displayed their best offensive performance of the season, securing a 21-10 lead, the Patriots leaned on their robust defense to seal the deal in the second half. Veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones’s tight coverage on the Steelers’ last-ditch fourth-down attempt highlighted the defensive stand.
Key Takeaways for Both Teams:
New England Patriots
- Game Summary in Two Words: Zappe hour. Backup-turned-starter Bailey Zappe provided the Patriots with their best quarterback play this season, achieving a rare feat by becoming the first New England player to throw three touchdowns in a first half since Tom Brady in 2018.
- Pivotal Play: Zappe’s 37-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster on the third offensive snap, marking the Patriots’ first completion of 30-plus air yards this season and reflecting their willingness to attack down the field.
- Breakout Performances:
- Tight end Hunter Henry scored two touchdowns on his 29th birthday, becoming the first Patriot since 2015 to score a touchdown on their birthday.
- Veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott showcased versatility, excelling as a rusher and pass-catcher, earning praise for his hustle play.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Current Situation: After a promising position less than a week ago, the Steelers now face a precarious postseason outlook, marked by consecutive losses to lower-ranked teams.
- Challenges Faced: The defense yielded 21 points to the team ranking last in points per game, while the offense, led by backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, struggled against Bill Belichick’s relentless defense.
- Troubling Trends:
- Persistent issues with illegal formation penalties, despite assurances of addressing the problem.
- Falling behind by three scores for the second consecutive week against lower-ranked opponents.
- Former players, James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster, had standout performances in homecoming games against the Steelers.
- Silver Lining: Linebacker Elandon Roberts displayed resilience, playing through a groin injury and contributing crucial plays in the midst of defensive challenges.
- Pivotal Play: Safety Miles Killebrew’s well-timed dive to block a Patriots punt early in the fourth quarter provided the Steelers a short field, resulting in a touchdown to narrow the gap to a field goal.
Next Games:
- New England Patriots: vs. Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 17)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: at Colts (4:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 16)”