Aaron Rodgers opened his last Pittsburgh chapter with a win, but Week 2 sends the Steelers into a hostile environment against a Patriots team desperate to erase a nightmare opener. New England was upset 13-10 by Seattle in the Super Bowl 60 rematch, with Drake Maye throwing three interceptions, while Pittsburgh held on for a 20-13 defensive-driven victory over Atlanta. Neither offense looked sharp in Week 1, setting up a low-scoring AFC clash at Gillette Stadium.
Mike Vrabel's group enters as decisive home favorites, but the Steelers proved capable of grinding out an ugly win when their defense controls the game. Can Pittsburgh's pass rush exploit a rattled Maye, or does New England correct course at home?
Steelers vs. Patriots Odds
Steelers: +5.5
Patriots: -5.5
Over/Under: 41.5 points
Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Steelers vs. Patriots Key Injuries
Pittsburgh's secondary took a hit as starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remains questionable after being inactive in Week 1 with a back issue that limited him in practice all week. Safety DeShon Elliott remains on injured reserve and isn't eligible to return until Week 5, while edge rusher Za'Darius Smith (shoulder) is also on the injury report heading into Sunday.
New England's situation is more alarming. Wide receiver A.J. Brown, the offseason addition brought in to be Maye's No. 1 target, landed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 1 and will miss a minimum of four games, including this matchup against Pittsburgh. Running back TreVeyon Henderson is also dealing with an ankle injury with his status for Sunday is questionable.
Losing Brown is a significant blow for an offense that already struggled to protect Maye in the opener, and it puts more pressure on the remaining receiving corps to create separation against a Steelers defense that limited Atlanta to just four receptions of 20-plus yards all game.
Steelers vs. Patriots Betting Trends
Article Continues BelowNew England opened as a 4.5-point favorite before the line settled at Patriots -5.5, with the moneyline hovering at -218 as bettors anticipate a bounce-back effort at home.
The total has settled at 41.5, one of the lower marks on the Week 2 board, reflecting how both offenses looked in their openers. Pittsburgh managed only 264 total yards and 58 rushing yards against Atlanta, while New England was held to 178 passing yards behind three Maye interceptions.
Keys to Steelers vs. Patriots Matchup
This game likely hinges on whether Drake Maye can shake off a three-interception outing against a defense that generates consistent pressure. Maye completed just 3 of 8 passes for 38 yards when pressured in Week 1, with his PFF passing grade collapsing from 65.9 when kept clean to 28.4 under duress. Pittsburgh's front, even without Za'Darius Smith at full strength, showed it can bottle up an opposing passer, holding Atlanta to 2-of-12 on third downs.
On the other side, Aaron Rodgers was efficient in his Steelers debut, completing 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers, but Pittsburgh's run game was nearly nonexistent, with Jaylen Warren (46 yards) and Rico Dowdle (15 yards) combining for just 61 yards on 18 carries. New England's defense can sell out to stop Rodgers' short-to-intermediate passing game, which could force Pittsburgh into another low-scoring slog.
Steelers vs. Patriots Prediction and Pick
New England's roster talent and home-field edge make it the more talented team on paper, but Drake Maye's turnover issues and the sudden loss of A.J. Brown create real uncertainty for an offense still finding its footing. Pittsburgh's defense, fresh off holding Atlanta to 238 total yards, is built to capitalize on exactly the kind of pressure-induced mistakes Maye showed in Week 1.
Given Pittsburgh's putrid rushing attack, expecting a Steelers upset outright is a stretch, but the number feels inflated. Take the Steelers to keep this within a field goal, and lean toward the under given both offenses' Week 1 struggles.
Prediction: Patriots 20, Steelers 17