In a battle of backup QBs, Bailey Zappe and the Patriots got the job done Thursday night in Pittsburgh with a 21-18 win over the Steelers as the crowd unleashed early and frequent boos on the home team.
Zappe drove to a score on the game-opening drive and had a trio of touchdown passes with a 21-3 lead midway through the second quarter thanks in part to the ineptitude of Mitchell Trubisky, who was terrible at times in front of the Terrible Towel-waving fans.
Things changed a bit in the second half as the New England offense stagnated, Zappe threw an interception and Pittsburgh was able to pull within three midway through fourth quarter.
The win improves the Patriots to 3-10 on the season while Pittsburgh drops to 7-6, having lost to a two-win team (Cardinals) for the second game in a row.
Before turning the page to the extended break to prepare to host the Chiefs a week from Sunday, here are the highs and lows from what turned out to be a somewhat entertaining win in Pittsburgh.
Thumbs up
Bailey Zappe – A week after getting shut out by the Chargers in his first loss as an NFL starter, Zappe had a three-pack of touchdown passes by the second quarter Thursday night in Pittsburgh. By halftime Zappe had completed 14 of 21 passes for 196 yards with the three touchdowns and most importantly no turnovers. It was the best half and the best quarterback play the Patriots have had all season, as the first Patriots quarterback with three touchdown passes in the first half since Tom Brady in 2018. Zappe did throw an interception on a poor decision/throw over the middle in the third quarter, but overall did enough to get the win.
Ezekiel Elliott – With starter Rhamondre Stevenson out with a high ankle sprain, the veteran backup Elliott took over the lead role in Pittsburgh and took charge. Elliott had a pair of receptions on New England’s impressive opening drive, including an 11-yard touchdown. It was the start to a big night catching the ball as Elliott hauled in seven passes for 72 yards, while adding 22 rushes for 68 yards.
JuJu Smith-Schuster – New England’s already questionable corps of receivers is even more undermanned at this point in the season and the veteran Smith-Schuster stepped up. On the first drive he did a nice job coming back for the ball and showing strong hands for a 37-yard reception that was the first completion for the Patriots longer than 30-plus air yards this season. Putting up plays against the team that drafted him, Smitch-Schuster finished with a season-best 90 yards on four catches.
Run Defense – A week after dominating the Chargers running game, New England’s defensive front was at it again against Najee Harris and the Steelers. In the first half the Patriots held Harris and backup Jaylen Warren to a combined 11 rushes for just 20 yards, a big reason Trubisky was in poor third-down situations with regularity, the former No. 2 overall pick throwing for just 61 yards in the first half. Overall Harris and Warren combined for just 40 yards on 19 attempts on the night, the Steelers averaging just 2.9 yards per carry as a team even including a 15 Trubisky scramble and a trick-play run.
Jabrill Peppers – One of the best, most consistent Patriots defenders all season, Peppers made a huge, game-changing play early against Pittsburgh. Peppers took full advantage of a poor Trubisky decision/throw under pressure for an interception that set the Patriots up on the Steelers’ 11 on the first play of the second quarter.
Hunter Henry – Celebrating his birthday, Henry notched a pair of touchdown receptions in the first half. While the first was a traditional throw over the middle for a short score, the second was a beautiful Zappe throw and Henry catch for the 24-yard score down the left sideline. Henry finished the game with three catches for 40 yards, including the two scores.
Thumbs down
Early/late flags – New England wiped out a couple early would-be big plays for itself with flags that they certainly earned. J.C. Jackson had an interception negated on Pittsburgh’s opening drive, a pick he got in place for with an obvious holding call. On the Patriots next offensive series a third-down completion to Henry was wiped out by an offensive pass interference call. The Patriots were fortunate to get away with an illegal hands to the face by a blitzing Kyle Dugger on Mitchell Trubisky on Peppers’ interception in the second quarter. Then, in the fourth quarter, Jackson was flagged for pass interference in the end zone to set the Steelers up first-and-goal.
Draft pick chances – The Patriots entered the game with a 2-10 record, well established as the projected No. 2 overall pick in next April’s Draft. But the win in Pittsburgh certainly puts any chances of getting the No. 1 overall pick likely out of reach and could leave New England out of range of the top two supposed franchise QB prospects altogether when all is said and done. If you were a fan rooting for the Patriots to lose out to earn the best pick possible, that took a blow Thursday night although the No. 2 pick is still in play.
Ty Montgomery – New England’s versatile veteran allowed Steelers edge rusher Miles Killebrew to run right through him for a partially blocked Bryce Baringer punt that went 11 yards and gave Pittsburgh great field position in the fourth quarter. The special teams gaffe allowed the Steelers to pull within 21-18 few plays later after a 26-yard drive to a touchdown. Montgomery was replaced on the next New England punt, but the damage was already done.
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