Patriots Psych-Out Steelers 33-3
In 2017 and 2018, when the Pittsburgh Steelers played the New England Patriots at Heinz Field, they looked hungry, punched them in the mouth and kept the pressure on quarterback Tom Brady. And even though they lost the 2017 game, it was only because of a controversial call that should’ve been a winning TD.
But when the Steelers play the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, they look lost. And that ‘lost look’ continued as they fell to the Patriots by 30 points to open the 2019 season on National Television.
Once again, head coach Bill Belichick and 42-year old Brady out-smarted the Steelers with textbook execution: Score points on offense, prevent points on defense and watch the opposing team self-destruct. Since 2002, the Patriots are 6-0 against the Steelers with Brady as QB, and their only win coming in 2008, when Brady missed the season due to injury.
With newly signed (and former Steeler) Antonio Brown watching from the owner Bob Kraft’s Owner’s box, the Patriots sped to a 20-0 halftime lead. Brady threw 2 TD passes one to wide out Josh Gordon and the other to wide out Phillip Dorsett. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski added the other points with 2 Field Goals.
After the Steelers scored their first points off a Chris Boswell field goal, Brady added another TD finding Dorsett wide open on a 58-yard TD. Gostkowski then added 2 more FGs to extend their lead to 30-3.
Other than Brady, what doomed the Steelers was their play-calling, especially on offense as they tried to rely on a short-pass plan which backfired. QB Ben Roethlisberger, who led the NFL with 5,129 yards last season, had trouble getting the ball to his receivers in this game. Big Bens’ one deep pass landed in the hands of James Washington for a 44-yard gain.
Brady was magnificent passing for 341 yards and 3TDs. Dorsett caught 2 of those TDs for 95 yards. For the Steelers, Roethlisberger passed for 276 yards and an interception.
“No need to sugar coat it. We weren’t ready for prime time tonight. its humbling, it sucks, it’s the National Football League.””-Said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
It wasn’t the way the Steelers wanted to start their season as they’re hoping to rebound from a 9- 6-1 2018 which included missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013 and recovering from a season of distractions with the absence of Le’Veon Bell and Brown.
This team must prove that they’re better than Sunday’s massacre and must show it in their second game when they host the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field. The Patriots will sign Brown to his 1-year $15 million contract before making the trip south to Miami to face the Dolphins.
Steelers injuries: Maurkice Pouncey (ankle), Joe Haden (shoulder), T.J. Watt (hip), and JuJu Smith-Schuster (toe).
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