A frustrating loss to the team that beat them in the Super Bowl seven months ago is not how the Patriots wanted to start their 2026 season.
Although the game wasn't a complete disaster, only because they lost by just three points instead of a blowout, the fourth quarter felt like the worst possible ending to the game, with Drake Maye imploding, players leaving the game due to injury, a new receiver dropping passes, and a winnable game being handed to the already excited home team.
That meant a statement win in their home opener was much needed in Week 2, and fortunately for Patriots fans, they delivered with a lot of help from their stellar defense.
Plenty of areas still need improvement, especially offensively, and it won't be easy, especially with a player like Mike Onwenu done for the year. But there were far more positives coming out of this game than last week, and that's something to be happy about.
5 winners and 2 losers from the Patriots' Week 2 win
Winner: CB Christian Gonzalez
Would it really be a Patriots game against a team with a game-changing wide receiver if Christian Gonzalez hadn't shut him down? Over the last three years, that's become the norm for the defense, and it held against DK Metcalf on Sunday afternoon.
With Carlton Davis sidelined for the matchup, the recently extended cornerback was expected to shadow the Steelers' top offensive weapon, especially with Michael Pittman Jr. already ruled out, too. And that's exactly what Gonzalez did, allowing just 4 catches on 9 targets for 27 yards.
It was such a stellar performance that Metcalf even jawed with Gonzalez at one point, clearly showing frustration after a stinker in Week 1 and another in Foxboro. But that's why Gonzalez gets paid the big bucks - he continues to prove why he was worth every penny.
Winner: RB TreVeyon Henderson
After missing Week 1 due to an injury sustained in practice, TreVeyon Henderson made his 2026 debut with a bang, breaking tackles and running for 39 yards to score the Patriots' first touchdown of the day in the first quarter.
It came just minutes after color commentator JJ Watt highlighted his explosiveness as a key factor in beating the Steelers on Sunday, and it certainly sparked the offense for the rest of the game.
After Stevenson fumbled and was presumably benched for a bit, Henderson took over and ended the game with 16 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. It might not be the most impressive stat line ever, but he was a reliable playmaker the team could turn to, and if he keeps that upward trend, he might become more involved in the offense as the season progresses.
Loser: QB Drake Maye
While his performance improved from last week's game, Drake Maye still didn't look like the runner-up to the MVP Award we witnessed last season, and that's becoming more concerning by the day.
He committed fewer turnovers, throwing only one interception, but he still made some questionable decisions throughout and at times seemed to play scared. Maybe it's because he has a handful of new players to work with in the receiver room and on the offensive line, or because of the nerves from how last season ended.
It's hard to say, but we do know the Patriots won't win many more games if he keeps playing the way he has over the last two weeks. It certainly won't help them against the Jaguars and Bills as they finish the first month of the season. So he will need to get it figured out sooner rather than later
Winner: WR Romeo Doubs
A frustrating debut with a new team had a lot of people talking and even overlooking what Romeo Doubs could do for the Patriots' offense, which fortunately fueled a major comeback against the Steelers.
With A.J. Brown sidelined for at least three more games, Maye will need receivers to step up, and that's one reason that Doubs was signed. We'll have to see if he can handle the pressure, but this was a good start.
Instead of repeating what we saw against the Seahawks, the wide receiver set two career highs on Sunday: the longest catch with an impressive 63-yard reception and 96 total yards on the day. It was quite the bounce-back performance that Doubs very much needed, as well as the offense, and hopefully, this will jump-start how he looks moving forward.
Loser: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Although he had a few good runs in this game, like the 24-yard run he made, the fumbling issue that has plagued Rhamondre Stevenson's career to this point reared its ugly head again on Sunday, and it could have been a bigger problem than it turned out to be.
The Steelers couldn't take advantage of the opportunity Stevenson gave them, as they didn't score on the extra drive. But that's not the silver lining here.
This was the first time the running back fumbled since Week 5 of the 2025 season, yet the third time against the Steelers. He helped Pittsburgh win last season, but that wasn't the case this time around.
Regardless, Stevenson needs to get this problem under control again, or TreVeyon Henderson will likely steal the starting job from him much sooner than anyone imagined.
Winner: LB Elijah Ponder
Perhaps the most welcome surprise of the entire day was the emergence of Elijah Ponder, who truly had his breakout game against the Steelers in more ways than one.
Not only did he record 5 total tackles, 3 for a loss, 2 quarterback hits, and a sack, but he also scooped up a fumble by Aaron Rodgers and took it to the house to put the Patriots up 20-3 at the start of the fourth quarter.
It was the score that sealed the first win of the season for the AFC Champions and put Ponder on the map with a wide-open hole on the defensive line to become the go-to pass rusher in general, but especially with Harold Landry still out and Dre'Mont Jones leaving this game early.
Winner: LB Christian Elliss
The linebackers really showed up in the second half, with Christian Elliss showing his determination to finish plays strong and his aggressive style throughout the day.
The most memorable example, of course, was the hit on Aaron Rodgers that led to Ponder's fumble, which Ponder recovered for a touchdown. It was reminiscent of his massive hit on the Giants' QB Jaxson Dart last season, and it's why the Patriots chose to keep Elliss around for 2026.
That kind of violence is what Mike Vrabel loves in his defense, and from the looks of it, Elliss will be the face of it for the rest of the season. Maybe others will pick up on it, and we will see even more big-time plays that work in their favor.
Honorable mentions: DT Christian Barmore for strip-sacking Rodgers, OLB Gabe Jacas for his interception, LB Robert Spillane for bringing the pressure to Rodgers all game long, and TE Eli Raridon for an impressive 30-yard reception.
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