Can the 2026 Patriots Bounce Back in Week Two Against the Steelers?
To start the 2026 NFL season, the New England Patriots looked to upset the Super Bowl LX Champion Seattle Seahawks. However, after taking a 10-0 lead, the Patriots gave up 13 unanswered points and fell in Week One, 13-10. Heading into their Week Two matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England will be without star wide receiver A.J. Brown, who is expected to miss at least four games with a high ankle sprain. Now the question is whether or not the Patriots can bounce back in their second game of the season against a Steelers team that won late in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons in Week One.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will need to heavily rely on running back Rhamondre Stevenson and other targets such as Mack Hollins, Hunter Henry, and DeMario Douglas. Maye should look to improve his passing game after recording a disastrous three interceptions in the Week One loss to Seattle. The biggest question mark about New England’s offense is the play of Romeo Doubs, who had no receptions on three targets last week. If Doubs can be the asset the Patriots paid him as, that could be a huge boost of confidence heading into Week Three and beyond.
A late interception by T.J. Watt would secure the Steelers a 20-13 win over the Falcons. Besides the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year saving the day for Pittsburgh, they did not look the greatest, and in a division grouped alongside the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens, this Steelers team has a lot of doubters to prove wrong. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 221 passing yards, yet Michael Pittman Jr. was the only receiver to have more than 50+ yards. From DK Metcalf to Pat Freiermuth and Jaylen Warren, everyone on Pittsburgh’s offense needs to find a way to remain undefeated in a brutal AFC North Division.
New England’s offensive line will need to hold up after each snap to protect Maye. If the Patriots’ 24-year-old quarterback is continuously pressured, it’s possible he continues the interception trend from last week. All of Maye’s targets need to be there, especially without Brown. Doubs has to redeem himself from last week. For the Steelers, Rodgers cannot have Father Time slowing him down. The Super Bowl XLV Champion quarterback has to give his targets the best passes possible if they want to continue being on top of the AFC North and proving doubters wrong.
If everything goes right, the Patriots should be able to give themselves their first win of the 2026 NFL season against the Steelers. They are the better team on paper, and even though they do not have Brown, Maye was last year’s runner-up for MVP; perhaps his three-interception Week One performance was a fluke, and he’ll be able to show that at Gillette Stadium in front of the home crowd. Pittsburgh will score in this game, but I believe the Patriots’ defense will be able to shut down the run game and limit any long passes. New England should win in Week Two, 28-14.
