Patriots exorcise offensive demons, hold on for street win vs. Steelers

PITTSBURGH — With negligible else to play games for alternative than pleasure, the New England Patriots grew to become in a gutsy efficiency in a 21-18 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As they confirmed a countrywide tv target audience, enjoying dried hasn’t been the problem for them this season — they’ve been in similar video games in all however two. It’s been the execution and coming thru within the seize with game-deciding performs that has been the disorder.

They after all got here thru in that branch towards the Steelers… slightly.

Upcoming a scorching first part through which they regarded as just right as they have got all season on offense — opening up a 21-10 supremacy — they depended on their stingy protection to similar issues out in the second one part. Veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones had vice-like protection on a last-gasp fourth-down effort by way of the Steelers.

Right here’s what to grasp for each groups off Thursday evening’s end result:

Pristine England Patriots

Describe the sport in two phrases: Zappe occasion. Alternative-turned-starter Bailey Zappe gave the Patriots their best possible QB play games of the season, changing into the primary Pristine England participant to throw for 3 touchdowns in a primary part since Tom Brady in 2018.

Pivotal play games: Zappe’s 37-yard go to JuJu Smith-Schuster at the 0.33 offensive snap. It was once the Patriots’ first of entirety of 30+ wind yards at the season, as they have been 0-for-18 on the ones throws coming into the evening, and it mirrored their willingness to assault ailing the garden.

Purchase on a breakout efficiency, Section I: Tight finish Hunter Henry scored two touchdowns on his twenty ninth birthday. The captain has been a standup presence all the way through a difficult season for the group and this was once a simply praise for him. He changed into the primary Patriot to attain a landing on his birthday since operating again Dion Lewis on Sept. 27, 2015 (who did so on his twenty fifth birthday). He changed into the 5th participant over the final 30 seasons with two receiving touchdowns on his birthday, becoming a member of DeVonta Smith (’21 vs. Broncos), Jimmy Graham (’14 vs. Ravens), Terrell Owens (’03 vs. Cardinals) and Isaac Bruce (’02 vs. Chargers).

Troubling development: The Patriots entered the evening with the Negative. 2 draft place at the back of the Bears (from Carolina), however with a win to reinforce to 3-10, they’re now fix with the Cardinals.

Purchase on a breakout efficiency, Section II: Veteran operating again Ezekiel Elliott was once a workhorse, settingup in park of the injured Rhamondre Stevenson. He hardly ever got here off the garden, was once a twin warning as a rusher and pass-catcher, and had an incredible hustle play games to file a take on on a Bailey Zappe interception. — Mike Reiss

Then contest: vs. Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 17)

play games

Bailey Zappe drops dime to Hunter Henry for his or her 2d TD connection

Bailey Zappe hits Hunter Henry in stride for the duo’s moment pitch-and-catch landing for the Patriots.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Not up to 5 days in the past, the Steelers seemed in high place to achieve the postseason, if no longer because the AFC North winner, after as a cast wild-card group. The offense wasn’t absolute best, nevertheless it was once settingup to click on. The protection was once cast. However with the loss to the Patriots — a moment consecutive loss to one of the vital league’s worst groups — the Steelers’ arrow is pointed anyplace however up.

The protection gave up 21 issues to the group ranked useless final in issues according to contest, and on offense, extra quarterback Mitch Trubisky and his unit couldn’t maintain the consistent force from Invoice Belichick’s relentless protection, to effect a disjointed attempt of 264 overall yards. Upcoming pulling inside a garden target early within the fourth quarter, the Steelers offense couldn’t even govern to get similar enough quantity for kicker Chris Boswell to similar the space with a leg that kicked a 56-yard garden target within the first quarter.

Upcoming shedding to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, some Steelers admitted they took the then-two win group too calmly, and vowed it wouldn’t occur once more. However halfway thru the second one quarter, the Patriots spread out a 21-3 supremacy, signaling that both the Steelers went again on their agreement, or worse but, they have been powerless to guard it.

Coming off a cast, if no longer convincing win towards the Cincinnati Bengals and dealing with a good agenda within the ultimate year of the season, the Steelers seemed to be righting a boat that spent the simpler a part of the season shoveling buckets of aqua from the hull. In lieu, that send is sinking temporarily, and it can be too past due to pocket up the holes.

Troubling development: Regardless of intervening time offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner pronouncing the offense addressed its issues getting covered up upcoming two unlawful formation consequences towards the Arizona Cardinals, the Steelers have been whistled for it once more towards the Patriots. This pace, the penalty got here when take on Chuks Okorafor got here at the garden as an difference lineman and did not shield up a take on. And after dealing with first-and-goal from the 8-yard-line early within the fourth quarter, the Steelers needed to burn a timeout on account of uncertainty in getting covered up. The Steelers offense has had an undeniably tumultuous stretch with the unparalleled in-season coordinator firing and an shock to their settingup quarterback, however the effort to get covered up shouldn’t be proceeding to occur in Hour 14.

Troubling development II: For the second one era in a row, the Steelers went ailing by way of 3 rankings to a group that entered the sport with simply two wins. Upcoming trailing the Arizona Cardinals by way of as many as 21 issues on Sunday, the Steelers trailed the Patriots by way of 18 halfway thru the second one quarter Thursday evening upcoming Hunter Henry‘s moment receiving landing. It marked the primary pace since 2013 the Steelers have trailed by way of no less than 18 in consecutive video games — and the primary pace beneath Mike Tomlin they’ve trailed by way of that many in consecutive house video games, in line with ESPN Stats and Data.

Troubling development III: Homecoming contest curse. Tomlin loves to remind his avid gamers there are not any homecoming video games within the NFL — that means refuse contest is a assured win towards a cupcake group. However towards the Steelers within the final two weeks, fighters have had luck in homecoming video games of a distinct type. A era upcoming former Steelers operating again James Conner had his best possible contest of the season with 105 yards and two touchdowns, former receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers’ 2017 second-round pick out, clash season-high marks within the first part. Smith-Schuster racked up 82 yards on 3 catches — together with a first-drive snag for 37 yards that arrange for the Patriots’ first opening-drive landing in 13 video games. It additionally marked the Patriots’ first of entirety of no less than 30 wind yards this season.

Silver lining: Elandon Roberts is actually that man. In a season the place the Steelers misplaced two in their 3 key within linebackers in back-to-back weeks, Roberts remainder a resilient pressure in the midst of the garden. Even though he left Sunday’s contest with a groin shock and didn’t follow all era, Roberts no longer simplest began Thursday evening, he additionally got here up with a a very powerful third-quarter 10-yard sack and a go breakup that became a Mykal Walker interception. The offense couldn’t flip the play games into any issues, however Roberts confirmed the type of toughness the Steelers covet in an within linebacker.

Pivotal play games: S Miles Killebrew made a wonderfully timed dive to prohibit a Patriots punt early within the fourth quarter, giving the Steelers a snip garden at the resulting pressure. Origination on the 26, the Steelers after all discovered the top zone 4 performs nearest to drag inside a garden target. — Brooke Pryor

Then contest: at Colts (4:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 16)