The New England Patriots got back on the right track in Week 2 against the Steelers with a comfortable, if not entirely convincing, 20-3 win. Drake Maye was better, throwing only one interception, but still had no touchdown passes against the Steelers.
After two games, he has only one. He's yet to regain the form he displayed last season when he challenged for, and should have won, the NFL's MVP award. Yet, he still sports a healthy 67.3 percent completion percentage.
Among the positives were rookie edge Gabe Jacas, who had an interception, and a new leader who seemed to emerge to help the team win. In a Patriots.com video, All-Pro safety Kevin Byard III is shown inspiring the team in the pre-game huddle before the win against the Steelers.
It was role held in 2025 by receiver, Stefon Diggs.
The New England Patriots are getting the veteran leadership they need
Nothing beats top veteran leadership to keep a young team heading in the right direction. A veteran like Byard, who earned the top award at his position and was a first-team All-Pro last year, is just what the doctor ordered for the Patriots, especially after a disappointing Week 1 collapse in a winnable game against Seattle.
Whether Byard was appointed by Head Coach Mike Vrabel or stepped into the role himself, it worked magic. In their home opener, the Patriots played a much better game, despite now being hampered by multiple injuries to starters on both sides of the ball.
Key players like No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown, guard Mike Onwenu, cornerback Carlton Davis III (who may return for Week 3's game), and the two starting edges, Harold Landry III and now Dre'Mont Jones, are out. Brown and Onwenu will be out at least for multiple weeks.
Onwenu, the team's best offensive lineman, may be out for the season. When adversity strikes, nothing helps more than a talented, respected veteran presence to steady things.
Byard was the perfect candidate to step in. When you're missing so many key players, the backups have to step up and get the job done. Anyone paying attention knew the Patriots did a poor job stacking depth in the 2026 offseason. It was clear that while the starting 11s on both sides of the ball were highly competitive, the depth behind them was as thin as a sheet of paper.
The personnel operation failed this offseason to do its job. They hoped for the best injury-wise. That's always a non-starter in the NFL where injuries happen all over the field, all the time. Not preparing for the worst and expecting the best on the injury front is a prescription for disaster in any NFL season.
Now leaders like Byard have to rally the remaining troops.
Regardless, absent early trades and/or the all-too-familiar Patriots' waiver-wire gambit, you are what you built in the offseason, and you now play the hand you dealt yourself. One very good offseason move, however, was signing Kevin Byard in free agency.
When you sign a first-team All-Pro, you've landed the best of the best, even though he's now playing in his age-33 season.
The Patriots rebounded against Pittsburgh, and their success now depends on how well the reserves can pick up the slack as Drake Maye bounces back from a lackluster first two games. And now, there's another shining light. Byard is stepping into a leadership role. It had an immediate impact in Week 2.
It's a strong signal that the team remains determined to excel and overcome an already tough injury situation. Yet, thanks in part to Byard, they've shown that they can. It's a very good sign.
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