Thank you for joining us for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ week two game against the New England Patriots. The Steelers (1-0) will look to stack wins ahead of a tough stretch in their schedule while the Patriots (0-1) will try to avoid digging an early season hole. This occasion is unique for a couple reasons. For one, its the first regular season game at Acrisure Stadium since the name change. Also, the last time these two teams faced off without either Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger was before the turn of the millennium in 1998. Kordell Stewart and Drew Bledsoe were the quarterbacks at the time.
Both teams have young rosters, but the steady hands of two of the most veteran coaches in the National Football League.
Refresh this page throughout the game for curated tweets, live updates, injury news, and more. Also, visit the comment section at the bottom of the page for a real-time discussion of the game’s events.
Steelers Inactive Players
QB Mason Rudolph
G Kendrick Green
DE Isaiahh Loudermilk
ILB Mark Robinson
WR Steven Sims
OLB David Anenih
Patriots Inactive Players
QB Bailey Zappe
G Chasen Hines
DB Marcus Jones
DT Sam Roberts
DB Joshuah Bledsoe
START OF GAME.
The Patriots won the coin toss and opted to defer. The Steelers start with the ball.
The kickoff was downed in the end zone for a touchback.
On 1st down, Najee Harris bounced outside for a gain of two. Chase Claypool received the 2nd down pass to pick up 4. On 3rd and 4, Trubisky incomplete to Pat Freiermuth probably should have caught it, but it was a hard pass outside his radius.
Pressley Harvin had a booming punt. Connor Heyward got downfield and the punt was dropped. It rolled into the end zone for a touch back. The Patriots never had full possession, so no safety.
On 1st and 10, the Mac Jones pass fell incomplete with Arthur Maulet in coverage. On 2nd, a run off left tackle by Damien Harris for 3 yards. 3rd and 7, Jakobi Meyers split the defenders after the crosser and picked up just enough for the first down.
1st and 10, Harris rushed for about 4 yards. A two yard rush set up 3rd and 4, which was converted on a 16 yard reception to Jakobi Meyers. The Patriots are sustaining drives early, something the Steelers offense has been unable to do this season.
Another 16 yards to Nelson Agholor, so the Patriots are very close to the red zone.
On 1st and 10, Devin Bush tackled Harris after a 9 yard gain. Back to Harris for 5 yards and a first down the next play.
Now in the red zone, Mac Jones scrambled for 2 yards. Cam Heyward brought him down for the short gain. Alex Highsmith had a nice pass rush rep there to flush him out of the pocket. On 2nd and 8, the pass fell incomplete, nearly picked off by Levi Wallace. Delay of game makes it 3rd and 13. Nelson Agholor received a short pass to the right side if the field brought down short of the line to gain. Field goal is good. 3-0 Patriots.
The Patriots first drive was 12 plays. Not a good sign for a defense coming off a near 100 snap game last week.
The kickoff resulted in a touchback again. Trubisky and the offense need to put together a drive here. Najee Harris was brought down for no gain on 1st down. On 2nd, Trubisky scrambled to the right side of the field for 7 yards. 3rd and 3, Diontae Johnson caught the pass to convert. The refs call it a fumble returned for a touchdown by the Patriots. It looked like Johnson’s knee was down before the ball came out. Its a bit dubious that the call on the field was touchdown.
The call was reversed, first down Steelers. Sigh of relief. On 1st and 10, Pat Freiermuth caught the pass for 7 yards. Jaylen Warren checked into the game at running back. He rushed up the middle for 4 yards to convert.
Warren got the ball again on 1st down for a 6 yard gain. Trubisky found Freiermuth again on 2nd down for 3 yards. That is going to set up 3rd and 1. On 3rd, Trubisky tried to draw the Patriots defense offsides to convert before calling the timeout. After the timeout, a handoff to Derek Watt rushed for two yards and the fresh set of downs.
Mitch Trubisky threw an interception on 1st down, so the Patriots have the ball on their own 39 yard line. The ball skipped off Mack Wilson’s hands and was picked off by the safety overtop.
The 1st down pass by Mac Jones fell incomplete on the attempted dump off. On 2nd and 10, Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 5 yards off the left guard. Larry Ogunjobi and Minkah Fitzpatrick in on the tackle. 3rd and 5, Minkah Fitzpatrick interception the deep pass in the middle of the field. Alex Highsmith had the pressure. The Steelers get the ball at their own 34 yard line.
Minkah Fitzpatrick continues to be the leader of this defense, making both the mundane and the flashy plays.
Najee Harris picked up 9 yards on 1st and 2nd down. Another 3rd and 1 opportunity for this team. Last time Derek Watt converted on the FB dive.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 3-0 PATRIOTS.
On 3rd and 1, Najee Harris ran off James Daniel’s hip for 5 yards and the fresh set of downs.
On 1st and 10, Najee Harris was hit immediately hit in the backfield for no gain. On 2nd, Trubisky’s pass fell incomplete. Flag for ineligible man downfield, but the Patriots decline. 3rd and 10, Trubisky connected with Diontae Johnson for a 12 yard gain. A nice conversion on 3rd and long.
On 1st down, Mitch Trubisky was sacked for a loss of 7 yards. He tried to connect with Pat Freiermuth on the 2nd, but it was covered up well. 3rd and 17, outside of field goal range, Trubisky went back to Diontae Johnson deep left and he picked up just enough yards to convert. At the very least, that puts it in Chris Boswell field goal range.
On 1st and 10, Najee Harris rushed for 6 yards, picking up another 3 on 2nd down. 3rd and 1 upcoming again. This drive is over 10 plays, a rare feat so far for this offense. Najee picked up the 1st down with a two yard run off right tackle.
Delay of game makes it 1st and 15 in the red zone. The first down play was incomplete to Chase Claypool, but back to Claypool on 2nd down for 11 yards. 3rd and 4 on the 13 yard line. Trubisky took the sack on 3rd, so Boswell should be in to tie up the game. Its tough to see a 15 play drive end in just three. The field goal is good. 3-3 Even.
A nice return for the Patriots sets the drive up from the 34 yard line. Damien Harris up the middle for 4 yards on 1st down. On 2nd, Mac Jones called for intentional grounding to avoid Robert Spillane’s blitz. 3rd and 16, Jakobi Meyers picked up 14 yards, but the Patriots were called for holding. Tomlin opts for 3rd and 26 rather than 4th and 2. Interesting choice. The Patriots picked up 24 yards to Jakobi Meyers. So they once again end up with 4th and 2 and Mike Tomlin gets his answer, the Patriots were looking to punt on 4th and 2 anyways.
The punt resulted in a touchback.
A shovel pass to Pat Freiermuth on 1st down picked up about 5 yards. Najee Harris ran for 3 on 2nd down. 3rd and 3, Trubisky found Claypool for 5 yards. The 3rd down operation is way better than last week.
On 1st and 10, Jaylen Warren checked back in for a two yard rush. False start called on Dan Moore Jr., so 2nd and 13. Claypool got involved again catching a quick pass for 6 yards. 3rd and 7, incomplete to Pat Freiermuth. The ball bounced off his face mask. That is two drops for Freiermuth on possession downs.
Pressley Harvin has a chance to pin them deep. The punt went 55 yards, but was returned 15 to the 25 yard line. The field was at least flipped by the Steelers’ offense and special teams.
Demarvin Leal has been playing edge a little bit today and nearly picked off the screen pass on 1st down. On 2nd, Nelson Agholor picked up 9 yards. Myles Jack shoestring tackled him to prevent a much larger gain. On 3rd and 1, Mac Jones snuck up the middle for 4 yards. New England called timeout with 2:16 remaining in the half.
TWO MINUTE WARNING.
On 1st and 10, Mac Jones incomplete to Meyers. On 2nd, back to Meyers for 7 yards. 3rd and 3 with under a minute remaining. On 3rd, Mac Jones found Agholor for a 44 yard touchdown. That is a killer for the Steelers going into half time. 10-3 Patriots.
George Pickens caught his first pass of the day in garbage time at the end of the half. 23 yards on the right sideline.
An incomplete pass and a sack set up 3rd and 14 from Pittsburgh’s own 40. Tomlin called a timeout, so I guess he wants one more play for a miracle. New England then called a timeout.
END OF HALF. 10-3 PATRIOTS.
Join us for the second half here.
