FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) entered Week 2 of the NFL season with confidence after a 20-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, highlighted by a strong performance from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers said he feels “really good” and expects his play to continue improving as the season progresses.
New leadership in Pittsburgh
Mike McCarthy, the Steelers’ new head coach, guided the team to its opening victory following the departure of longtime coach Mike Tomlin. The win also featured a notable defensive play by linebacker T.J. Watt, who recorded a pick‑six that placed him alongside Hall of Famer Julius Peppers as the only players in NFL history with at least 100 sacks and 10 interceptions.
Rodgers’ 164th regular‑season win as a starter brings him within one victory of tying former Steelers great Ben Roethlisberger for fifth on the league’s career list. The quarterback also contributed to the team’s ground game, though Pittsburgh averaged only 2.8 yards per carry, relying on a late‑game first down by running back Jaylen Warren to help seal the win.
Patriots aim to recover
New England (0-1) heads into the matchup with the Steelers under the direction of coach Mike Vrabel, who is seeking to avoid a 0-2 start for the first time in his eight‑year coaching career. Quarterback Drake Maye, now in his third season, struggled in the previous week’s 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, throwing three interceptions – the first time that has happened in his NFL career.
Maye will also be without wide receiver A.J. Brown, who suffered a high‑ankle sprain in Seattle and has been placed on injured reserve for at least four games. Maye acknowledged the need to elevate his performance and called for a collective effort from his teammates to move the Patriots in the right direction.
Key matchups and injuries
The Steelers’ defensive line will test the Patriots’ offensive line, which performed adequately in protecting Maye against Seattle but struggled to establish a running game, gaining only 109 yards on the ground (3.5 yards per carry). New England ranks 17th in the league in rushing entering Week 2.
On the Steelers side, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remains a question mark after missing Week 1 and limiting his practice due to a back injury, with contract negotiations also hanging over his future with the team.
Historical context
This season’s opening game adds to a long‑standing rivalry; the Steelers defeated the Patriots 21-14 on Sept. 21, 2025, in Foxborough. The overall series record now stands at Patriots 19, Steelers 17.
Both teams are part of a challenging opening schedule. The Patriots become the second of four straight opponents to open the season against teams that made the playoffs the previous year, and New England is the ninth team in the past 40 seasons to begin its schedule with four consecutive playoff teams from the prior year.
Looking ahead
Fans can watch the game Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT on CBS. Current betting odds favor the Patriots by five points, though the spread reflects the Steelers’ 1-0 record and the Patriots’ 0-0-1 record against the spread.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
