The Patriots quite literally fumbled away Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.
Turnovers plagued the Patriots in the 21-14 Week 3 loss, with four lost fumbles and one interception for five total giveaways. The Patriots’ defense got out to a horrific start but then went on to force four straight three-and-outs, four punts and picked off quarterback Aaron Rodgers after allowing touchdowns on the Steelers’ first two drives.
It wasn’t enough, however. After forcing six straight scoreless drives, the Patriots’ defense finally allowed a touchdown following the offense’s fifth turnover, a fumble from quarterback Drake Maye. It was the Patriots’ first five-turnover game since 2008.
Wide receiver Calvin Austin found the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers with Marcus Jones in coverage to put the Steelers ahead 21-14 with just over two minutes left in the game.
The Patriots got to the Steelers’ 28-yard line on their ensuing drive, but Maye threw just short of the sticks to DeMario Douglas, who then went backwards trying to gain room to pick up the first down to turn the ball over on downs.
“We just have to not give them so many chances with the turnovers, take care of those things,” head coach Mike Vrabel said after the game. “There’s a lot to clean up. A lot of good in there, but unfortunately just not enough to get us to win, to get us to really have any sort of advantage in a football game.
“Every time I felt like we were going to take the momentum and be able to score and move forward in the game, and the defense did a great job there. Unfortunately it got to be one too many opportunities on their part.”
The Patriots got off to an inauspicious start in the first quarter. An ugly, sloppy first drive ended with running back Rhamondre Stevenson’s first fumble of the season, which was recovered by Steelers cornerback Darius Slay.
The Steelers’ offense moved through the Patriots’ defense with ease and benefited from two costly penalties on their way to a 1-yard rushing touchdown from running back Kenneth Gainwell to give Pittsburgh a 7-0 lead.
The Patriots stalled again on their second drive with Maye taking his second sack of the game and punted to the Steelers.
With the help of more costly penalties, the Steelers went 90 yards on 12 plays before Rodgers delivered a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DK Metcalf. Rodgers passed Brett Favre on the all-time passing touchdown list with the completion.
The Patriots got on the board in their third drive, benefiting from some penalty luck. A pass interference penalty, drawn by wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, put the ball on the 5-yard line, where Maye found a wide-open Hunter Henry on a play-action pass, cutting the Steelers’ lead to 14-7. Maye made plays with his legs on the drive, as well, scrambling for 16 yards.
The Patriots forced a punt then went on a 17-play, 94-yard drive that ended with an interception from Maye. The Patriots QB hit his head hard on the turf on a QB hit on second down then was intercepted by Brandin Echols on a target into the end zone to Boutte that was tipped by defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. The Steelers kneeled on the ball, taking a 14-7 lead into the half.
Linebacker Robert Spillane gave the Patriots great field position on an interception and 37-yard return to the Steelers’ 11-yard line coming out of the half. After a 9-yard catch from Henry, Stevenson fumbled, again, into the end zone for a Steelers touchback.
After forcing a punt, the Patriots turned the ball over for the fourth time. It was Antonio Gibson’s turn to fumble this time, coughing up the ball on a 1-yard carry. The fumble was forced and recovered by old friend Jabrill Peppers, who signed with the Steelers after getting cut by the Patriots before Week 1.
The Patriots’ defense forced yet another punt, and Maye led the offense on a 15-play, 88-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Henry.
The defense, lights out after the first two drives, forced another punt even after getting called for a costly and largely unwarranted defensive pass interference penalty.
Then the offense continued their trend of tripping over their own feet. They got into Steelers territory before Maye fumbled the ball away when he tried to make something out of nothing with pressure bearing down. Maye tried to get the ball to rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson but fumbled instead.
BEST
LB Robert Spillane: Really nice bounce-back game from Spillane, who struggled tackling and in coverage last week against the Dolphins. Spillane’s biggest play was his interception, but he was also constantly around the ball and didn’t have any noticeable missed tackles, though he was caught flat-footed by running back Jaylen Warren in the fourth quarter. Spillane finished the game with a team-leading 15 tackles.
TE Hunter Henry: Henry was looking and playing like Marv Cook circa 1991 wearing No. 85 in the throwback Pat Patriot uniforms. Henry led the teams with seven catches for 78 yards and scored his first two touchdowns of the season.
WORST
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: You will yourself on the down list after losing two fumbles. Stevenson went from hero to zero quickly. He was one of the best players on the field in the Patriots’ Week 2 win over the Dolphins then could not hang onto the ball this week.
CB Alex Austin: Thrust into action with Christian Gonzalez (hamstring), Austin was called for two costly penalties in the first quarter. He was penalized for defensive pass interference on the Steelers’ first drive, putting the ball at the 1-yard line for an easy scoring touchdown. He was also flagged for holding, negating a key third-down sack, on the Steelers’ second drive.
CB Carlton Davis III: The veteran cornerback allowed a touchdown to Metcalf on the Steelers’ second drive. He was also flagged for defensive pass interference early in the fourth quarter, but it was a ticky-tack call on a ball that was thrown 10 yards out of bounds.
RB Antonio Gibson: Gibson lost a fumble, as well. Maye also turned over the ball twice.
