The New England Patriots picked up their first victory of the season with a commanding 20-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Driven by a suffocating defensive effort, the Patriots stifled Pittsburgh’s offense all afternoon to secure the bounce-back win.

1. Patriots defense dominates Steelers: The story of the game was New England’s defense, which tormented Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers from start to finish. The unit recorded 4 sacks, forced a pair of fumbles, and picked off Rodgers. The highlight came when Christian Barmore generated a massive interior push to knock the ball loose from Rodgers, allowing Elijah Ponder to scoop up the fumble and return it for a touchdown to put the game out of reach. 

2. Injuries pile up: Despite the decisive victory, the Patriots took a hit on the injury front. Right guard Mike Onwenu was carted off late in the first quarter after suffering an ankle injury when rolled up on. In addition, several other players exited throughout the game, including edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder), tight end Eli Raridon (thigh), safety Dell Pettus (ankle), cornerback Marcus Jones, and safety Craig Woodson (shoulder). There is currently update on any of the players.

3. Drake Maye and the offense struggle once again: While the defense shined, the passing attack under Drake Maye remained inconsistent. Maye finished 14-of-22 for 208 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. His turnover came on an ill-advised forced pass as he was being hit, which was easily intercepted by Patrick Queen. While Maye flashed occasional playmaking outside the pocket, the offense repeatedly stalled and forced New England to settle for field goal attempts. 

4. Ponder and Jacas make plays off the edge: Young pass rushers Elijah Ponder and Gabe Jacas stepped up in a major way off the edge. Beyond his 19-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, Ponder provided consistent pressure in the backfield. Meanwhile, the rookie Jacas made multiple impact plays, including hitting Rodgers on an incomplete pass and securing a tipped-ball interception after a pass ricocheted late in the game. With Harold Landry out and now DreMont Jones, the Patriots will be counting on Jacas and Ponder even more.

5. Patriots rush for 136 yards and a touchdown: New England’s ground attack provided the offense with its most reliable foundation. Led by TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots rushed for 136 total yards, establishing physical control at the line of scrimmage. Henderson capped off a key drive with a 39 yard rushing touchdown to establish early momentum. The Patriots will continue to emphasize the running game as they try and figure out their offensive identity this season.

6. Maye, Doubs finally connecting: After coming off a quiet opener, wide receiver Romeo Doubs broke out with explosive plays downfield. Maye connected with Doubs on a pair of deep shots, including a 29-yard conversion and a massive 63-yard connection that set up a field goal. With A.J. Brown sidelined, the duo showed promising chemistry that could become the centerpiece of the passing game moving forward. 

7. A win is a win: It wasn’t always clean, particularly given the ongoing offensive hiccups and the mounting injury list, but a 20-3 triumph over a conference rival gives New England crucial momentum moving forward. Building off a dominant defensive performance, the Patriots proved they can control games while working through offensive growing pains. The next two games at Jacksonville and Buffalo will tell us a lot about where this team is right now.