It will be challenging for head coach Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots to put the game film aside and move on from Sunday’s brutal loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only did the Patriots literally fumble away a game they dominated on their home field, but they let a mediocre Steelers team beat them at their own game.
Vrabel’s vision for this Patriots team was made clear all offseason. The goal was to eliminate bad football, while being good and aware enough to capitalize on the bad football of opposing teams on a weekly basis.
Unfortunately for Vrabel and his Patriots, the team is having a difficult time solving the first part of the equation, and that’s led to a disappointing 1-2 start to the 2025 season.
New England mostly dominated the Steelers in what ended up being a 21-14 loss at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots ran 22 more offensive plays, gained 166 more net yards, and possessed the football for about seven more minutes. Pittsburgh’s buzzing defense definitely created some problems, but New England likely wins that game if it doesn't lose the turnover battle, 5-1.
This one hurts. The Patriots were supposed to be the team that won games thanks to their unprepared opponents, not the other way around.
As usual with this young and rebuilding team, there were some positive flashes. But we’ve now seen the Patriots beat themselves for the second time in three weeks, and that has to change in short order before another season falls off the rails.
The best and worst from the New England Patriots’ 21-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3
Winner: TE Hunter Henry
Henry was Maye’s favorite receiver, catching eight of his 11 targets for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Inconsistency at the wide receiver position is a topic for another day, but Henry’s value to the Patriots’ offense is obvious. It’s vital that New England keeps its 30-year-old tight end healthy and involved this season.
Loser: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Stevenson was the Patriots’ best player not named Drake Maye in last week’s win over Miami. Against the Steelers, he went from hero to goat with two lost fumbles, including one at the goal line.
The fifth-year pro has now fumbled the ball nine times over his last 18 regular-season games, with five of them resulting in turnovers. The Patriots need his physicality and sneaky-good pass-catching ability, but it will be hard to trust him in Week 4 after he helped give this one away.
Winner: LB Robert Spillane
The 29-year-old was all over the field, finishing with 10 solo tackles (a game-high 15 total) and a tackle for loss.
Ripped by the media all week for his struggles in coverage against the Miami Dolphins, Spillane also intercepted a Rodgers pass at the start of the second half. That was a performance Patriots fans needed to see.
Loser: WR DeMario Douglas
Douglas has been seeing his role in the offense diminish, but Sunday’s game hit a new low.
While it’s commendable that Maye took responsibility for New England’s failed fourth-and-1 conversion attempt at the end of the game, this one is 100 percent on Douglas. He caught the football at the sticks with plenty of space to plant his foot, get upfield, and extend the game. Instead, he went backwards.
With just two catches for seven yards on five targets Sunday, one of New England’s longest tenured WRs could soon find himself buried on the depth chart.
Winner: QB Drake Maye
Maye’s turnovers were obviously brutal, especially his red zone interception at the end of the first half. He did, however, take a huge hit on the previous play when the back of his helmet slammed into the turf.
New England’s young quarterback showed some toughness in this one. He was efficient against one of the best pass rushes in the NFL, and helped hold things together as the team continually shot itself in the foot.
The silver lining was the final drive of the game. Maye hasn’t had a ton of opportunities for fourth quarter comebacks in his young career, and Sunday’s finish was a positive sign. Down seven points with 2:16 remaining, Maye picked up a pair of first downs and should have had a third on Douglas’ failed fourth-down reception.
Maye finished the game with a 102.1 passer rating and also led the team in rushing. He could have played better, but quarterback is the least of New England’s issues right now.