Two of the most successful organizations in NFL history get together on the Three Rivers Sunday when Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) host Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots (0-1). Read on for a breakdown of the Patriots vs. Steelers matchups, the key injuries, and game predictions from our NFL staff.
New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers preview
It’s never wise to overreact to any one week — and particularly Week 1 — in the NFL, but the New England Patriots have to have some internal concern about their offense. It’s not like Sunday’s flop in South Florida came out of nowhere.
The Patriots were bad on offense throughout the summer. And they continued to be bad in Week 1, turning the ball over three times in a 20-7 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Mac Jones gave up a strip-sack for a touchdown and threw a pick to lose for the third time in as many meetings with the Dolphins.
[bet-promo id=”174860″ ]The good news for the Patriots? Their defense was actually pretty good and should continue to look as such this week against a very limited Steelers offense. Yes, Pittsburgh beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Week 1, but they needed five Joe Burrow turnovers and a late blocked extra point plus a missed field goal to do it.
Plus, with T.J. Watt out for the next month-plus, the defense won’t be the same. In other words, the Steelers will need more out of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky than they got in Week 1 (21 of 38 for 194 yards).
Patriots vs. Steelers prediction
Betting line (courtesy of Caesars)
Patriots -2.5; Patriots -135, Steelers +115; O/U 40.5
Adam Beasley’s prediction
8-8-1 straight-up, 8-9 against the spread in 2022
Patriots 20, Steelers 7
Dalton Miller’s prediction
9-7-1 straight-up, 8-9 against the spread in 2022
Patriots 20, Steelers 17
Dallas Robinson’s prediction
9-7-1 straight-up, 6-11 against the spread in 2022
Patriots 21, Steelers 14
How to watch Patriots vs. Steelers
- Date/Time
Sunday, Sept. 18, 1 p.m. ET - Channel
CBS - Live streams
CBS All-Access, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
Patriots vs. Steelers matchups and stats
After playing six times between September 2015 and September 2019 — and representing the AFC in the Super Bowl 12 times over an 18-year span — it’s actually been a minute since these old-school modern rivals last played. The Patriots won the last meeting (33-3 on Sept. 8, 2019), and have beaten the Steelers in six of their last seven meetings to take a 17-16 lead in the all-time series.
New England Patriots 2022 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 7.0 (T-30th)
- Yards: 271.0 (26th)
- Yards per play: 5.0 (22nd)
- Passing: 193.0 (23rd)
- Rushing: 78.0 (22nd)
- Defensive scoring: 20.0 (T-12th)
- Yards allowed: 307.0 (11th)
- Yards per play allowed: 5.2 (14th)
- Pass defense: 242.0 (20th)
- Rush defense: 65.0 (fifth)
Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 23.0 (T-20th)
- Yards: 267.0 (27th)
- Yards per play: 4.4 (29th)
- Passing: 192.0 (24th)
- Rushing: 75.0 (26th)
- Defensive scoring: 20.0 (T-12th)
- Yards allowed: 432.0 (28th)
- Yards per play allowed: 4.6 (seventh)
- Pass defense: 299.0 (28th)
- Rush defense: 133.0 (23rd)
Injuries to know
New England Patriots
- S Joshuah Bledsoe (groin, questionable)
- DB Adrian Phillips (ribs, questionable)
- CB Shaun Wade (ankle, questionable)
- RB Pierre Strong (shoulder, questionable)
- OT Trent Brown (ankle, questionable)
- MLB Raekwon McMillan (thumb, questionable)
- WR Ty Montgomery (injured reserve)
- LB Ronnie Perkins (injured reserve)
- WR Tyquan Thornton (injured reserve)
- WR Kristian Wilkerson (injured reserve)
- CB Joejuan Williams (injured reserve)
- K Quinn Nordin (non-football injury)
- OL Andrew Stueber (non-football injury)
- WR Calvin Austin III (injured reserve)
- S Karl Joseph (injured reserve)
- S Damontae Kazee (injured reserve)
- RB Jeremy McNichols (injured reserve)
- WR Anthony Miller (injured reserve)
- DB Carlins Platel (injured reserve)
- LB T.J. Watt (injured reserve)