The Patriots are back in the win column with a 20-3 victory over the Steelers, a team that was in the playoffs just last year. Yeah, it feels like a marathon to get from Week 1 to Week 2 after that Wednesday night opener, but honestly? It’s not about the win itself. Losing Mike Onwenu to what looks like a broken ankle? That really, really sucks. This was as close to a must-win as you get in Week 2, and the Patriots took care of business at home, but that injury is a major hit.
That Defense? Straight Fire, For Real.
Let’s be real, the Patriots *needed* to bounce back after a rough season opener. And against a 2025 playoff team like the Steelers, a 20-3 win isn’t anything to scoff at. The defense was absolutely lights-out. I mean, if Pittsburgh had an offensive highlight, I definitely missed it. The D looked absolutely incredible, completely shutting down an opponent that isn’t terrible, they’re not trash at all. They kept them out of the end zone all game. The Patriots were in control from kickoff to the final whistle, and it was mostly thanks to that defensive performance. It kinda reminds you of the old Brady Era wins, right? We’d beat the Ravens or Bills or Steelers by 14 or 23 points, Brady would have 248 with a TD and a pick, and still, all you’d hear from the media was how sluggish the offense looked or how many points were left on the field. This team just cranked out a bounceback win, and some folks are still calling them a disaster. Insane.
Maye’s Struggles and Who Is Romeo Doubs, Anyway?
Alright, so the defense showed up big time. But did Drake Maye look great out there? Not at all. That’s four interceptions in two games for him now, which is definitely not ideal. The offense just hasn’t found its second gear yet, and it was clear. No Patriots receiver caught more than three passes all game, and outside of a few chunk plays, there weren’t a ton of offensive highlights to write home about. I’m trying to be objective after a win, but you gotta wonder what this offense is even supposed to look like without A.J. Brown. And I still can’t figure out if Romeo Doubs is any good. Honestly, I’m not *overly* concerned about Maye just yet, but I’m also not sure if I *should* be. It’s a weird spot. What I am very concerned about, though, is that offensive line depth now that Onwenu is out. That’s a huge blow to handle this early in the season.
Look, I’m mostly just happy with the win. It felt like this team had the game well in hand from the opening kickoff, game-planning with a solid confidence. If the defense can stay this consistent, maybe the offense doesn’t need to score 40 points every game. The big questions are how they manage that O-line with Onwenu sidelined and if Maye can cut down the turnovers. It’s early, but the answers to those will define this squad’s year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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