The Steelers’ offense was putrid today against the Patriots, with Aaron Rodgers able to do nothing in a 20-3 loss.
It was an ugly performance by Pittsburgh that will raise serious questions about whether Rodgers, in what he says is his final NFL season, is going to be able to lead them to anything better than mediocrity.
Today, the Steelers were sub-mediocre. Rodgers managed just 187 yards on 23-of-39 passing, with no touchdowns and one interception, and he also lost a fumble that New England’s Elijah Ponder picked up and returned for a touchdown.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye wasn’t great either, completing 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards, with no touchdown and one interception. But the Patriots got 76 rushing yards from TreVeyon Henderson and 43 rushing yards from Rhamondre Stevenson, and that was enough to control the game on a day when the Steelers’ offense kept punting.
The Patriots and Steelers are both 1-1 through two weeks, but the Patriots have to feel a lot better about where they are going. The Steelers look like they’re going nowhere.
The Patriots have jumped out to an early lead over the Steelers today, but on their second scoring drive, they suffered a big loss,.
Patriots right guard Mike Onwenu was carted off the field a right ankle injury, and the Patriots ruled him out for the rest of the game within minutes of the injury.
Onwenu has started all 17 games the last two seasons and been one of the most consistent players on the Patriots’ offense, and losing him will be a big blow.
New England got a 39-yard touchdown run from TreVeyon Henderson to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, and a 30-yard field goal from Andy Borregales to extend the lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow called it “ridiculous” to think he might miss Sunday’s game in Houston because of back tightness and he is active for the Week 2 matchup with the Texans.
Burrow’s health became a talking point this week when he was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but he returned to full practice on Friday. The Bengals still listed him as questionable for the team’s first road game of the season.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Burrow felt normal while going through Friday’s practice, but was very sore earlier in the week. The Texans pass rush could exacerbate that soreness if they’re able to get to Burrow early in Sunday’s game.
Bengals at Texans
Bengals: WR Ke’Shawn Williams, CB Josh Newton, OL Connor Lew, DL BJ Hill, DL Landon Robinson, QB Josh Johnson, OL Myles Hinton
Texans: TE Brevin Jordan, WR Nico Collins, LB Jake Hummel, CB Collin Wright, G Ed Ingram, OT Nate Thomas, DE Jadeveon Clowney
Panthers at Falcons
Panthers: LB Pat Jones, TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, QB Haynes King, CB Chau Smith-Wade, LB Tyrel Dodson, OT Albert Reese, DT Bobby Brown
Falcons: QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Michael Penix, DB Billy Bowman, DB Malcolm DeWalt, OL Ethan Onianwa
Saints at Ravens
Saints: RB Kendre Miler, QB Zach Wilson, DB Decamerion Richardson, LB Isaiah Stalbird, DL Christen Miller, OL Mason Murphy, DL John Ridgeway
Ravens: QB Joe Fagnano, WR Zay Flowers, G Andrew Vorhees, OT Gerad Lichtenhan, LB Teddye Buchanan, DL Nnamdi Madubuike
Vikings at Bears
Vikings: QB Kyler Murray, WR Jauan Jennings, DB Zemaiah Vaughn, DB Jakobe Thomas, OL Nick Samac, OL Caleb Tiernan, DL Elijah Williams
Bears: QB Case Keenum, DE Jamree Kromah, DT Jayden Loving, OT Ozzy Trapilo, OL Jordan McFadden
Steelers at Patriots
Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., WR Michael Pittman Jr., QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, G Gennings Dunker, DT Kevin Jobity, DT Gabriel Rubio
Patriots: CB Carlton Davis, OT Dametrious Crownover, OT Walter Rouse, TE Tanner Arkin, DL Leonard Taylor, QB Behren Morton
Packers at Jets
Packers: CB Benjamin St-Juste, OL John Williams, OL Travis Glover, DT Warren Brinson, DT Javon Hargrave
Jets: CB D’Angelo Ponds, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, K Blake Grupe, RB Kene Nwangwu, LB Joseph Ossai, LB Trevin Wallace
Browns at Buccaneers
Browns: QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, S Daniel Thomas, CB Toriano Pride, C Parker Brailsford, G Teven Jenkins
Buccaneers: CB Ayden Garnes, CB Jacob Parrish, G Luke Haggard, G Billy Schrauth, DL DeMonte Capehart, DL Elijah Simmons
Eagles at Titans
Eagles: QB Tanner McKee, QB Cole Payton, WR Elijah Moore, LB Jonathan Greenard, G Micah Morris
Titans: CB Cor’Dale Flott, LB James Williams, OL Atonio Mafi, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Kylen Granson, DT Jackie Marshall
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will miss his second straight game on Sunday and his outlook for Week 3 remains uncertain as well.
The plan was for Porter to ramp up his workload this week, but he had to leave practice early on Thursday after his back flared up and he was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Patriots. Porter is also working on his conditioning after spending all of training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Steelers are targeting Week 3’s game against the Bengals for his 2026 debut, but that Porter is considering a second opinion on his back. All of this is playing out against the backdrop of Porter’s desire for a new contract that the Steelers aren’t expected to discuss given their longstanding policy of not negotiating during the season.
That impasse has led to speculation about a trade, although nothing appears imminent with Week 2 about to get underway. Should Porter remain out as the trade deadline draws closer, things could change on that front.
Last Sunday, coach Mike McCarthy won in his Pittsburgh debut. (The 20-13 game easily could have gone the other way.) With a win at New England on Sunday, McCarthy will be the fourth coach in Steelers history to start his tenure with the team at 2-0.
Via NBC Sports research, the others were Mike Tomlin in 2007, Bill Cowher in 1992, and Johnny Blood in 1937, when the team was known as the Pirates.
On the flip side, the Patriots hope to avoid starting 0-2 for the second time in 20 seasons. It last happened in 2023, to start Bill Belichick’s final run in New England.
A loss would make the Patriots the fifth Super Bowl participant since 2000 to start 0-2 the next year. It also happened to the 2025 Chiefs, the 2022 Bengals, the 2015 Seahawks, and the 2022 Rams. (Both the 2022 Bengals and 2015 Seahawks recovered to make the playoffs.)
Is it a “must” win for New England? With trips to Jacksonville and Buffalo on deck, it very well could be.
