FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a disappointing 20-3 defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots on Sunday, and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not shy away from the blame. After completing 23 of 39 passes for 187 yards, Rodgers said, “My performance wasn’t good enough and a lot of guys on offense weren’t good enough. We’ve got to start by looking at ourselves, not point the finger.”
Offensive woes continue
Through the first two games of the season, Rodgers has thrown only one touchdown on 79 attempts, and the Steelers’ offense has struggled to move the ball. The line allowed four sacks, including a blind‑side hit by Patriots defensive tackle Christian Elliss that resulted in a 36‑yard loss. Rodgers shrugged off the hit, noting the need to get up quickly after such collisions.
Wide receiver DK Metcalf also had a rough outing, catching just four of nine targets for 27 yards and dropping a crucial third‑down pass. “It’s frustrating, for sure,” Rodgers said. “Our defense has been playing great… offensively, we’re averaging eight points per game. That’s not winning football.”
Key moments in the game
The Patriots opened the scoring early and kept the Steelers off the board for most of the contest. In the fourth quarter, a sack by Christian Barmore forced a fumble that Patriots rookie Elijah Ponder recovered and returned 19 yards for a touchdown. Later, rookie quarterback Germie Bedard failed to secure a pass from Rodgers, leading to an interception by Patriots rookie Gabe Jacas.
Despite a few opportunities—Patriots kicker Andy Borregales missed a 47‑yard field‑goal and Steelers defender Drake Maye was intercepted early in the second half—the Steelers could not capitalize. The missed field‑goal and the turnover left the Steelers with limited chances to close the gap.
Looking ahead
Rodgers emphasized the need for improvement, especially in communication and execution. He praised Bedard’s effort, calling him “a good kid, and cares about it,” and urged the young player to keep developing. The Steelers will look to tighten their offensive line, protect the quarterback better, and get more production from their receiving corps as they prepare for their next matchup.
Coach Mike McCarthy, who guided the team to a Week 1 win over Atlanta, will have to address the recurring issues that have hampered the offense. With the defense holding opponents to 13 points per game, the Steelers’ path to victory hinges on reviving their scoring ability.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
