2025 Steelers Offseason Recall: Defense carries Pittsburgh past Patriots in Week 3

When the Pittsburgh Steelers traveled to Foxborough for a Week 3 matchup with the New England Patriots, the storyline entering the game centered around experience versus youth. Aaron Rodgers brought veteran poise and stability to Pittsburgh, while the Patriots continued their transition into the Drake Maye era.

The pregame expectation was clear: if the Steelers defense could pressure the young quarterback and force mistakes, Pittsburgh would have the edge. That prediction proved accurate, although not always in the cleanest fashion.

The Steelers escaped New England with a 21-14 victory in what many described as an ugly win, but it was also a revealing one. Pittsburgh’s defense created chaos throughout the afternoon, forcing five Patriots turnovers and constantly putting Maye under pressure. The second-year quarterback showed flashes of athleticism and arm talent, but Pittsburgh’s defensive front repeatedly disrupted any momentum the Patriots attempted to build.

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T.J. Watt snapped a six-game sack drought with two sacks, while Nick Herbig stepped into a larger role for the injured Alex Highsmith and delivered four quarterback hits along with a strip sack. Cameron Heyward added pressure of his own, and rookie Derrick Harmon made an immediate impact in his season debut by recording his first NFL sack.

The Steelers defense didn’t just force turnovers; several came at critical moments. One Patriots fumble was recovered near Pittsburgh’s own goal line, while backup cornerback Brandin Echols intercepted a would-be touchdown pass at the two-yard line to preserve momentum.

Head coach Mike Tomlin later revealed that the coaching staff emphasized forcing turnovers throughout the week, particularly targeting New England running back Rhamondre Stevenson’s history of ball security issues. The plan paid off, as Stevenson fumbled twice and the Patriots continually put themselves behind the chains despite moving the football effectively at times.

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Still, the game also highlighted lingering concerns for Pittsburgh.

Despite winning the turnover battle decisively, the Steelers offense struggled to fully capitalize on the opportunities created by the defense. Rodgers avoided sacks and showed command late in the game, including a clutch touchdown throw to Calvin Austin III, but the offense often felt disjointed.

Pittsburgh managed only 17 first downs and totaled just 64 rushing yards on 24 attempts. Rodgers admitted after the game that the offense struggled to establish rhythm, especially with long stretches spent on the sideline as New England controlled possession for more than 33 minutes.

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The Patriots actually outgained Pittsburgh offensively, finishing with 119 rushing yards and 250 passing yards while converting 26 first downs. Maye showed flashes that reminded everyone why New England invested in him as their future quarterback, but the Steelers defense repeatedly erased those moments with takeaways and timely pressure.

The game also provided an important milestone for Rodgers personally. In his 21st NFL season, he finally earned his first career victory at Gillette Stadium after previous failed attempts there with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.

Defensively, Pittsburgh unveiled several new looks due to injuries and roster adjustments. Jalen Ramsey and Jabrill Peppers handled safety duties, Echols filled in on the outside for Joey Porter Jr., and Cole Holcomb made his long-awaited return after missing all of 2024 recovering from injury. While the unit still surrendered too many conversions on third and fourth down, the energy and aggressiveness looked noticeably improved compared to previous weeks.

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One of the more encouraging developments offensively continued to be Calvin Austin III. Austin caught the game-winning touchdown and continued to emerge as a reliable secondary receiving option behind D.K. Metcalf. His explosiveness and nearly 16 yards-per-catch average through three games gave the Steelers another needed spark in an offense still searching for consistency.

In many ways, the game mirrored the identity Pittsburgh hoped to establish entering the season. The defense dictated key moments, Rodgers provided late-game steadiness, and the Steelers leaned on veteran composure to survive a physical contest on the road.

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At the same time, the performance reinforced that Pittsburgh still had work to do. The defense created opportunities, but the offense struggled to fully seize them. The talent was obvious on paper, yet the complete performance Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan envisioned had not entirely materialized.

For one afternoon in Foxborough, though, the Steelers’ formula of defense, pressure, and veteran quarterback play was enough to secure another win.

Stay tuned as we revisit another key moment from last season in next week’s Recall.