FOXBOROUGH - Look, we’re not about to confuse the ‘26 Steelers offense with the ‘99 Rams or the ‘13 Broncos, but anytime you can take an Aaron Rodgers-led team and stuff it into a locker as the Patriots did, let’s give credit where credit is due. The Patriots defense showed up in a major way, picking up Drake Maye and company en route to their first win of the season.
Plus, let’s face it, there’s something perversely enjoyable about seeing Rodgers trudging toward the sideline, his chinstrap all askew, after his late-game fumble that turned into an Elijah Ponder touchdown. That put any thoughts, hopes, or dreams of a comeback right back where they belonged - in a port-a-potty in the Gillette Stadium parking lot.
“That has to be the formula,” an excitable Mike Vrabel said postgame. “You have to affect the quarterback each and every week. … Proud of our defense.”
‘We did really good,” linebacker Christian Ellis said. “Taking the ball away is a number one priority. There’s always going to be things you want to clean up…things that we get to the sideline and say, ‘Dang, they got us on this.’ But for the most part, we responded well, even when they got in the red zone, played good defense and got the ball back.”
When the game was still in the balance - until the scoop-and-score by Ponder - the Pats were in all-out attack mode. Per SumerSports, they blitzed 47% of the time (finished at 42%) and had that same 47% pressure rate. Elliss was a huge part of that, turning a long 2nd-quarter Steelers drive that looked destined for at least 3 points into a remarkable field position swing. Elliss damn near decapitated Rodgers, popped the ball loose, pushed Pittsburgh back 36 yards (I still can’t believe that, but it’s true), and forced a punt.
“It was a great play call,” Elliss said of defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr. “Was able to get exactly what we wanted. I came free. Rodgers wasn’t looking, so I laid a hit.”
“You know, we talked all week about who was going to be the most physical team, and that was - obviously - going to be the team to win the game,” Kevin Byard said. “I felt like guys made an effort to go out there and play fast and play physical. So it was very good to get a win. Obviously, to hold a Hall of Fame quarterback and their offense to three points felt really good.”
This defensive performance went beyond