Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward added to his Canton-worthy resume on Sunday, with a one-man wrecking crew performance against the Patriots.
And the Steelers needed it. Their 21-14 win was aided by five New England turnovers, in a game during which the Steelers were outgained, 369 yards to 203.
Heyward personally kept the Patriots from scoring 14 points, with a tipped pass that became an interception in the end zone and a strip of running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who lost two fumbles on the day, near the goal line.
“We practice a lot on our turnover circuits, and punching the ball, being aware of different opportunities to create turnovers,” Heyward told PFT by phone after the game. “And we knew there were a lot of career fumbles on the other side. So, you know, knowing that and practicing that, we were well prepared for the opportunities.”
They were specifically prepared for Stevenson.
“Oh, we were aware every time he was in the game,” Heyward said. “And that’s not anything on him. And it’s not just him. Drake Maye has turned the ball over earlier in his career, and a couple of other guys as well. We were really locked in on this is a group that turns over the ball. It’s about making sure you’re there for the opportunities, and you have a good chance to punch it loose.”
It became the difference between winning and losing. And if the Steelers had lost to the Patriots and fallen to 1-2, the road to the postseason would have instantly become far rockier.
The Steelers had three objectively winnable games to start the season. They won two of them. While not perfect, it’s good enough to give them a chance to try to couple a strong offensive performance with a strong defensive performance for the first time in 2025 when they face the Vikings in Ireland on Sunday.
31 comments
This is depressing
Well yeah no shit. He’s the starting RB and he led the league in fumbles lol. IDK why Cam said this. It was probably a single sentence in the defense prep. The Steelers play everyone like that. It’s annoying that NE couldn’t adjust to it at all though
The most frustrating part is that it’s one thing if fumbles were caused by amazing defensive plays, he literally holds onto the ball so loosely/casually that routine plays cause fumbles. That’s why I don’t think it could be fixed and is a lost cause. I’m hoping to be proven wrong.
Obviously he’s going to say this. It gives his coach credit for making the players prepared and gives the players credit for executing.
I hope it’s just a matter of him getting his head screwed on straight and realizing he holds his career in his hands with that football. Because if he’s doing everything he can to secure the ball and he’s STILL fumbling…oh man. If that’s the case, he’s cooked.
He HAS to cover the ball with both arms in all touches in practice going forward. He is so talented otherwise. It suck’s that he is such a giant liability. Celebrating a TD on your couch to realize seconds later that not only did the team not get points….. they don’t even have possession anymore
Stevenson is what he is at this point but Maye has got to be more focused on taking care of the football, he’s now been credited with 19 turnovers in 13 full starts. they’re not all his fault but you just can’t turn the ball over at that rate and expect to win games in the NFL.
the flipside of that is that he’s only got 13 full starts under his belt which I think some people on this sub need to keep in mind when criticizing him. functionally he is still a rookie QB who is learning a new and famously complex system, need to have a realistic expectation that there are going to be growing pains throughout this season
At some point, it’s worth noting the team relies on players that just don’t seem to know how to win, came up playing for patriots’ teams that weren’t good. They never had the chance to develop a winning mentality, foster proper situational awareness. I’m not sure a coaching change fixes that and the light comes on suddenly. We’re tricked into thinking they will (Douglas, Owenu, Stevenson) because of their natural talent, but I’m not sure they’ll get past the bad habits that have been building over several losing seasons.
Other teams know. They’re gonna keep trying to strip him until either he stops fumbling or he stops getting snaps.
He’s right through, Gibson has a fumbling history too, just more luck than mondre as far as recoveries and Drake has fumbled many times too
He needs to be cut
Don’t worry, Coach Vrabel doesn’t think it’s a big deal. Probably gave him a game ball after the loss. Ever since Camp Cupcake, these players knew that this soft team wouldn’t be held accountable for anything. Everyone was so consumed with anointing the Patriots as this season’s “hot new team” that they never saw this undisciplined team coming.
For as much (rightful) grief as I gave Mayo last season, I’ve been far less impressed with this Vrabel team.
1. Great coaching by Tomlin to have these guys ready for it. I’m sure it was all over the report
2. wtf, if it’s that’s obvious to other teams it’s time to make a change. We can’t win like that
I want to be mad but he’s right. Kinda preparation a good coach like Tomlin does
This is what the good coaches do.. they identify a weakness and they gameplan and prepare their teams for it.
“And it’s not just him…We were really locked in on this is a group that turns over the ball.”
Great. They have a reputation as a bunch of bozos.
Imagine having such a liability in your game that the entire opposing defense is on hightened alert when you’re on the field, AND THEN they manage to successfully exploit that liability not once but twice.
Brutal to read, but makes perfect sense. It also helps you force a second year QB throw, so you can play the pass. Under-center play action is impossible, and you know (after Rhamondre and Gibson are taken out) that Henderson is going to have limited touches, as he’s not a bell-cow. What sucks is that our game plan was excellent. The running backs- and Maye- just turned the ball over.
I went to high school with Cam’s younger cousin Shaka. Met Cam once or twice and got to talk football with him around graduation time. Shaka was extremely astute regarding football and Cam seemed even more dialed in than he was. This statement is something that all of us can easily fathom, but I guarantee some of these guys pick up on the littlest details that don’t even cross our minds.
Not ideal
This title is a bit misleading, he wasn’t just calling out Stevenson. He said the entire offense was turnover prone. So not better but not attacking just Rhamondre
Gonna be honest I don’t wanna see Rhamondre out there at all next week unless it’s to pass block.
It’s insane that with 5 turnovers we could have and probably should have won that game. With “only” 3 turnovers we win easily.
Obviously we’re off to a rocky start, but the Steelers are very bad and on the wrong track. I doubt we lose to them again if we got a second chance 8 weeks from now.
I find it funny how the sub fluctuates wildly from negative to positive week after week.
We lose? Everybody is a bum, fire the head coach and draft a new QB.
We win? Super Bowl bound, baby!
Just watch when we beat the Panthers… we’re getting 100 “DAE PATRIOTS ARE BACK” posts.
Drake is due 1 TO worthy play a game and Mondre is due to fumble every 1-2 games. Gotta love losing the TO battle before you even play but this is the reality I don’t know how you even win this way. It will probably be on the weeks we don’t turn the ball over somehow.
They took advantage of bad football
So were we. When I saw him in the game those few times after he fumbled I was screaming at my TV screen.
You dont think Peppers didn’t go in there and remind them of the team weaknesses …
Great fourth down back. If he loses the handle the ball would’ve gone over anyway.
It seems like what this story is pointing out is that the Steelers were more mature and prepared, but the Pats have more raw talent on their side and might be a team to be reckoned with once they get their lineup a little more polished and learn each others’ strengths and weaknesses.