The New England Patriots' 2026 schedule presents a massive challenge in their first four games. All are against 2025 playoff teams. That gauntlet began with the Seahawks in Week 1, when a fourth-quarter implosion cost them the game.
Usually, Drake Maye threw three interceptions in that quarter, and that was it. Now in Week 2, they'll face a solid but not-so-dominant Pittsburgh Steelers, and the outlook is far rosier.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco supports that thesis. He likes the Patriots on Sunday, at home against the Steelers. It's a good call, but the reality is that the Patriots offense, which many expected to do a lot, took a massive hit when No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown went out with an injury.
It's a high ankle sprain, never an easy one to recover from. Regardless, Patriot Nation should expect a bounce-back game from Maye and his still-solid offense.
The New England Patriots offense has to step up against Pittsburgh
Injuries are a fact of life in the NFL. They happen all over the field, and offseason depth preparation is the remedy. Fortunately for the Patriots, their wide receiver room is as well-stocked as any on the team.
New player Romeo Doubs, a free-agent signee, had a dud of a first game against Seattle. He didn't catch a ball. He'll be expected, along with Mack Hollins, to pick up much of the slack in Brown's absence.
The expectation is that Doubs and Hollins will do just that, and Prisco expects a win.
"New England has been off for a while since losing the opener to the Seahawks. The offense was bad that night. It will be better here. The Steelers didn't do much on offense in the victory over the Falcons, which I think will carry over in this one. This is a low-scoring game with the Pats winning it.
Pick: Patriots 21, Steelers 14"
Another wrinkle could be the emergence of second-year receiver Efton Chism III. He may have the best hands on the team after Brown, and he makes things happen after the catch. His only problem isn't his at all. It's the coaching staff's, which didn't dress him against Seattle.
They continued their 2025 gaffe when Chism had just three targets all season. Additionally, handing Marcus Jones some plays at wide receiver would also be a great look.
Yet, the best possible news for the Patriots would be the expected return of explosive running back TreVeyon Henderson. The second-year player missed the Seattle game with an injury. Henderson is a threat to take a ball to the house every time he gets it.
He's the team's most explosive player and a must for any defensive coordinator to game plan for. His return will be great news after the loss of Brown.
The Patriots and Drake Maye should be poised to rebound nicely from the deflating loss to Seattle in the opener in a very winnable game.
Regardless, the team is headed to Pittsburgh to play in the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium. Maye will likely right the ship, and if he avoids costly turnovers, the Patriots are expected to be 1-1 by Sunday evening.
Add us as a preferred source on Google