The Patriots absolutely shut down Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense yesterday, walking away with a dominant 20-3 win. Drake Maye didn’t have to be great, because New England’s defense was just *that* good, making life hell for the Steelers at every turn.
Steelers’ Offense Was a Total Misfire Show
This wasn’t just a win, it was a defensive masterclass. The Patriots’ D teed off on Rodgers from the jump. They forced two fumbles from the guy, one of which turned into a crazy 36-yard loss and a fourth-and-43 punt. Seriously, *fourth-and-43*! Christian Elliss was in on the first one, sacking Rodgers and forcing the ball loose. Even though Troy Fautanu eventually recovered it for Pittsburgh, that huge loss just killed any chance they had to score in the second quarter. Then, in the fourth quarter, Christian Barmore got pressure right up the middle, forced another fumble, and Elijah Ponder scooped it up, taking it 19 yards for a touchdown. That scoop-and-score pushed the lead to 20-3 and basically iced the game right there. When Rodgers wasn’t fumbling, he was getting intercepted. New England ended Pittsburgh’s best chance at a touchdown drive, picking Rodgers off after they’d marched 72 yards in 11 plays. That’s a backbreaker.
Rodgers Got Absolutely Hammered All Game
If he wasn’t turning the ball over, Rodgers was dealing with constant pressure. He just could not get Pittsburgh’s offense moving in any meaningful way. His final line? A rough 23 completions on 39 attempts for only 187 yards, which is a measly 4.8 yards per attempt. Zero touchdowns, one interception, four sacks, and he got hit seven other times! Pittsburgh’s offense as a whole barely managed 227 total yards, at just 3.5 yards per play. It was ugly. On the flip side, the Patriots offense did enough, with TreVeyon Henderson making a statement in his first game back from an ankle injury, busting out a 39-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. That was literally all the points New England needed to seal the deal.
That 20-3 final score really tells you everything you need to know about where this Steelers offense is right now. It’s not pretty.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply