The New England Patriots will play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday in the 2026 home opener at Gillette Stadium. We preview the game on today’s Patriots Roundtable Podcast.
The New England Patriots are on to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Following a heart breaking defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 regular season opener that featured three fourth quarter interceptions by star quarterback Drake Maye, New England returns home to Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium for their Week 2 home opener against Pittsburgh.
On today’s episode of the Patriots Roundtable Podcast, hosts Eddie Marotta and Tyler Geis preview the Patriots’ upcoming showdown with the Steelers, including key matchups featuring head coach Mike McCarthy, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and a Pittsburgh defense that suffocated their opposition en route to a Week 1 victory.
Last week against the Atlanta Falcons, the Steelers defensive front feasted against third-string quarterback Cooper Rush and an anemic Atlanta offense. Edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith each recorded 2.0 sacks in the game, with Watt adding a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown to seal the game in favor of Pittsburgh in the fourth quarter.
Offensively, Rodgers (24-of-40 passing, 221 yards, one touchdown) led a new-look scheme with his former Green Bay Packers’ playcaller and the addition of wide receiver Michael Pittman (3 catches, 58 yards) on the outside, adding to a group that also features D.K. Metcalf (4 catches, 40 yards) and Massachusetts-native Pat Freiermuth (5 catches, 46 yards, one touchdown).
For New England, Maye will look to shake-off the woes of his recent fourth quarter performance, but will do so against a Steelers defense that rattled him early in the 2025 season. Last year, Maye was sacked five times and turned the football over twice (one interception and one fumble) against a Pittsburgh defense that was missing Highsmith, who was inactive due to injury. In the 21-14 loss, left tackle Will Campbell registered his lowest pass-blocking grade of the regular season at 48.1 (per PFF), and allowed four pressures.
The Patriots may be able to look forward to some positive news entering this weekend’s rematch, as running back TreVeyon Henderson looks to be on-track to return for his first action of the year after missing Week 1 with an ankle injury. The second-year back returned to practice this week for the first time since August 24, and will look to provide a spark for a rushing attack that averaged just 3.5 yards per carry against Seattle in the NFL’s kickoff game.
Today, we review what New England can do on both sides of the ball to ensure that Sunday’s result ends in the win column for the first time in 2026.
How do you think the Patriots will bounce back this weekend against the Steelers? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.
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