The Patriots pulled off a win in Pittsburgh that was both sweet in the present and could prove bitter in the future.
With Bailey Zappe at the helm, New England jumped out to an 18-point second quarter lead, and they were able to hang on to a 21-18 win over Mitchell Trubisky’s Steelers. With the win, the Patriots improved to 3-10 on the season, hampering their future draft stock, but offering a measure of relief for the current team. Such is life in December at the bottom of the conference.
Here are nine takeaways from a wild Thursday Night Football game:
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1. Zappe gets it done
Zappe came out the chute in total control, as the Patriots engineered a 75-yard touchdown drive on their opening possession. With three first half touchdown passes, the Patriots offense had built an 18-point lead just 22 minutes into the game.
Things cooled off mightily as time wore on — they didn’t have a drive of more than 20 yards in the second half — but ultimately did enough good things to win. Zappe finished 19-of-28 for 240 yards with the three touchdown passes and one interception, and has almost certainly locked down the starting job moving forward.
“Zap was balling tonight today, man,” Zeke Elliott said. “He commands our attention in that huddle. He was out there making the checks, making the points, and just had so much confidence. The offense definitely can feel that.”
2. Birthday boy delivers
Hunter Henry hauled in two of Zappe’s touchdown passes, a memorable present on his 29th birthday.
The tight end’s second touchdown catch spoke to the confidence his quarterback is playing with right now. After Henry ran past a cornerback, Steelers safety Damontae Kazee read the play and darted across the field to help. Zappe bet on himself and hummed a 26-yard pass past Kazee’s outstretched hands and into Henry’s arms. A half-second later or a few inches inside and it might have been intercepted, but Zappe bet on himself and won.
3. Big day for Zeke
With Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined due to a high-ankle sprain and absolutely no depth behind Elliott, it was a very busy evening for the veteran. He couldn’t have responded much better.
“We needed him to step up and carry the ball today, and he did,” Bill Belichick said. “Carried the ball, a lot of plays, a lot of snaps. Short week. Got banged up last week. That was a pro performance today.”
Elliott picked up 140 yards from scrimmage — 68 rushing, 72 receiving — caught a touchdown pass from Zappe, and made a tackle that took seven points off the board. When Zappe was intercepted in the third quarter, Elliott didn’t quit on the play. He chased Mykal Walker down from behind and tackled the Steelers linebacker at New England’s 16-yard line. The Patriots defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs; no points were scored because Elliott prevented the pick-six.
“That’s huge in a game like this,” JuJu Smith-Schuster said. “That’s what you call second effort.”
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4. JuJu wakes up
It’d been a forgettable first season with the Patriots for Smith-Schuster until Thursday night. The veteran wideout went off for 90 yards on four catches, easily eclipsing his season-high of 51. In his Pittsburgh homecoming, the wideout won a heck of a jump ball, made a couple explosive plays, and looked like the impact receiver the Patriots thought they were getting when they inked him to a big-money deal in free agency.
5. Another special teams disaster
With momentum swaying in the Steelers’ favor early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots punt team pushed it over the top. Ty Montgomery was beat cleanly on the right edge by Steelers safety Miles Killebrew, Bryce Baringer’s punt was blocked, and Pittsburgh took over at the Patriots 26-yard line. They turned that into seven points and Montgomery was benched for Baringer’s next boot.
It’s the fifth punt the Patriots have had blocked over the past three seasons. For context, they only allowed four blocks in the 13 seasons preceding 2021.
6. Peppers delivers big play
Another game, another Jabrill Peppers highlight.
The safety set Zappe up with a short field on the first play of the second quarter, intercepting Trubisky and returning the pick 32 yards down to the Steelers 11-yard line. The Patriots offense turned it into a quick seven points and it was perfect complementary football.
“He’s the highlight reel. He’s the human highlight reel on defense,” Deatrich Wise said. “He’s loud in the locker room. He’s even louder on the field.”
7. Tough night for Jackson
Though the Patriots defense had a strong showing, it was a frustrating evening for one Patriots cornerback. J.C. Jackson had an interception negated by pass interference, was flagged for another pass interference infraction in the end zone, and gave up a touchdown catch to Diontae Johnson. It’s been a rollercoaster season for the ballhawk, who is still looking for his first takeaway since returning to New England.
8. Draft stock stays the same for now
As many Patriots fans have been eyeing the 2024 NFL Draft, Thursday night’s win didn’t change New England’s projected pick. They still hold No. 2 overall at the moment, as they’re tied with the Arizona Cardinals at 3-10, but own the strength of schedule tiebreaker.
9. Tough stretch ahead
Before a potential layup against the Jets in Week 18 at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots have a challenging stretch ahead. Their next three games are hosting Patrick Mahomes and the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs, at Denver on Christmas Eve, and at Buffalo on New Years Eve.
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