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Week 7: Patriots – Steelers Game Review

By Jaydeen Allen

Oct 23, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talk after their game at Heinz Field. New England won 27-16. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talk after their game at Heinz Field. New England won 27-16. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) scores a touchdown past Pittsburgh Steelers safety Robert Golden (21) during the second half at Heinz Field. The Patriots won the game, 27-16. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) scores a touchdown past Pittsburgh Steelers safety Robert Golden (21) during the second half at Heinz Field. The Patriots won the game, 27-16. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /

Play of the Game

Gronkowski TD in the 3rd QTR

After the Steelers kicked a FG that made the game 14-13, the Patriots offense were looking to kill their momentum. On 3rd-and-7 on the Steelers side of the field, Brady found Gronkowski down the seam for a 36-yard TD pass. This put the Patriots 20-13, and they never looked back.

For some strange reason, the Steelers, who had limited Gronkowski from really having a huge game up to the point, elected to put a safety on him in single coverage down the seam. Primarily when Gronkowski is running down field, one would think that opposing teams would elect to double cover him or have a box coverage on him, but the Steelers have yet to learn their lesson in five games played against him.

Something that may go unnoticed however is that Edelman was open coming across the field on an in-route, so regardless the third down would have likely been converted, and the drive would have continued.

Things to Improve On

Third Down/Redzone Defense

This will be something that the Patriots can always improve on going forward, especially with how they played on third down at times this season. The defense seems to be trending upward now as they now rank 22nd on third down percentage (42%) and 21st in redzone scoring percentage (61%). Hopefully this continues.

Pass Defense

Aside from Butler and Ryan (at times), Patriots cornerbacks have looked shaky during this season, and this was the case again when they faced the Steelers offense. Ryan and Rowe didn’t have their best games against the Steelers WRs.

Stephen Gostkowski 

Gostkowski will also be another thing to monitor as he missed another PAT this season. Heinz Field is not one of the easier places to be a kicker, however, this is the second straight week Gostkowski has missed a PAT. Again, it’s not time to panic, but his performance will monitored closely for the rest of the season.

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