The Daily Sports Page

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Patriots leaned on their defense Sunday as much as any offense, turning pressure into points in a 20-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. TreVeyon Henderson, making his season debut, burst down the middle for a 39-yard touchdown after a 19-yard punt return by Marcus Jones set up the series, and Elijah Ponder capped a late turnover with a 19-yard fumble return for a score. Kicker Andy Borregales added two field goals to complete the scoring as New England improved to 1-1 and head coach Mike Vrabel avoided just the second 0-2 start of his eight-year tenure.

Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers never found a rhythm against New England’s pass rush and coverage. Rodgers finished 23 of 39 for 187 yards with an interception and was sacked four times, coughing up two fumbles, one of which led directly to Ponder’s touchdown after Christian Barmore’s strip-sack. Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez shadowed DK Metcalf at times, limiting him to four catches for 27 yards, and Vrabel said afterward: “That has to be the formula, we have to affect the quarterback each and every week.”

The game featured a string of momentum shifts early. New England moved to the Pittsburgh 34 on its opening drive before Rhamondre Stevenson was stripped by linebacker Nick Herbig; a 15-yard taunting penalty on Jalen Ramsey pushed the following possession back to the Steelers’ 16, and Pittsburgh went three-and-out. Later, Romeo Doubs — who had no catches in his Patriots debut last week — ripped off a 63-yard reception in the third quarter to set up Borregales’ second field goal. With under five minutes remaining and the Steelers threatening at the Patriots’ 17, rookie linebacker Gabe Jacas intercepted a bobbled pass intended for Germie Bernard, sealing the day for New England.

The loss left Pittsburgh with just one touchdown in 25 possessions through two games, a drought coach Mike McCarthy blamed on schematic issues and vowed to fix. Rodgers was blunt as well: “We just didn't get into a rhythm. We had too many three-and-outs again... We all played below our standard.” Both teams also dealt with injury concerns: Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker was shaken up but walked off, and RB Rico Dowdle left with a toe issue; for New England, right guard Mike Onwenu had his ankle rolled late in the first quarter and had to be helped to a cart, while several other Patriots (Dre’Mont Jones, Eli Raridon, Dell Pettus, Marcus Jones and Craig Woodson) exited at various points. The Steelers host the Bengals next Sunday; New England travels to Jacksonville.