{"id":1004971,"date":"2026-09-19T11:21:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T11:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/1004971\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T11:21:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T11:21:15","slug":"steelers-expert-just-gave-the-patriots-a-perfect-blueprint-for-big-week-2-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/1004971\/","title":{"rendered":"Steelers expert just gave the Patriots a perfect blueprint for big Week 2 win"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriots go into their Week 2 matchup against the Steelers<\/a> under frustrating circumstances, coming off a big loss to the Seahawks in what many saw as a chance to avenge their Super Bowl loss earlier this year.<\/p>\n

It was a far different game than what we saw seven months ago, with the Patriots losing by just three points, but all due to their own mistakes, and now they’re hoping to get back on track against a long-time rival that is set to head to Gillette Stadium for the team’s home opener.<\/p>\n

The Steelers come to Foxboro fresh off a win over the Falcons, so it would be fair to say they’re feeling mighty confident, despite the current odds favoring the home team. <\/p>\n

Because they have some superstars at key positions on their roster, such as Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, D.K. Metcalf leading the receivers, and T.J. Watt on the defensive line, there are plenty of players the Patriots need to prepare for and hope they can’t take control of the game and determine the outcome.<\/p>\n

Although Pittsburgh got a win last week, they didn’t play that well. In fact, they won by only one score, and their biggest fans are concerned about what this season might look like, even with the seemingly positive changes they made this offseason.<\/p>\n

Our resident Steelers expert at Still Curtain, Tommy Jaggi<\/a>, offered Musket Fire plenty of insight into the upcoming matchup, especially the Steelers’ biggest weaknesses the Patriots should exploit to grab their first win of the season.<\/p>\n

The Patriots’ defense might have an easy recipe to beat the Steelers in Week 2<\/p>\n

While speaking to Jaggi in the days leading up to the game, he made it clear what the Steelers’ biggest weaknesses are: their right guard Spencer Anderson, safety Rayshawn Jenkins, and their run game, or lack thereof.<\/p>\n

Anderson was given his first opportunity to be a full-time starter this year, and based on how he performed against the Falcons last week, earning a 44.1 pass-block grade, there’s plenty of room for improvement for the 2023 draft pick.<\/p>\n

The Patriots might not have the strongest defensive line in football, but a weakness as apparent as Anderson gives someone like Milton Williams a big chance to make a major impact, as does whichever pass rusher lines up on the right side. <\/p>\n

If they can disrupt Anderson enough to get to Rodgers, that’s a huge win that could become a difference-maker in the game.<\/p>\n

Coupled with the apparent weakness of their right guard is the offensive line overall, according to Jaggi, who failed to create openings for their running backs to get the ground game going, similar to the problems the Patriots dealt with<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n

The offense recorded just 58 rushing yards on the day, averaging 2.8 yards per carry. That’s something the Patriots could easily exploit, forcing Rodgers to throw the ball far more than he’d probably like.<\/p>\n

Knowing he has a player like Metcalf to work with, you’d think it wouldn’t be a problem, especially knowing that the Patriots have historically played poorly against the Pro Bowler. But the 28-year-old hasn’t been the superstar the Steelers hoped he would be when they traded for him last year, as shown last week when he caught just 4 passes on 10 targets for 40 yards.<\/p>\n

His struggles were a huge problem throughout the entire game, with Jaggi labeling his performance as “the worst game of his career,” having dropped two passes and “failed to come down with a deep ball down the sideline.”<\/p>\n

As if those weaknesses weren’t enough, Drake Maye and the offense might have an easier day, too, and they will need to be far better than they were last week against the Seahawks.<\/p>\n

Drake Maye will need to be far better against a depleted secondary than he was last week<\/p>\n

While most of the Steelers’ weaknesses appear to be in their offense, Jaggi named safety Rayshawn Jenkins as a player the Patriots can exploit, as he was thrust into a bigger role after DeShon Elliott began the season on injured reserve.<\/p>\n

Against the Falcons, Jenkins allowed a 23-yard touchdown to put the Falcons up at the end of the first quarter.<\/p>\n

Assuming the Patriots use the depth of their wide receiver room with A.J. Brown out, they could make Jenkins’ day even harder by throwing<\/a> different receivers his way on almost every play. <\/p>\n

That’s what they should have done last week when two starting safeties weren’t on the field for Seattle, but we know how that went, and it wasn’t good. They can’t make that same mistake again, especially since Maye is one of the league’s best deep passers, and they can’t afford to overlook a weakness in the secondary.<\/p>\n

They’ll have to deal with a tough defensive front, of course, with Watt leading the way, which could make it a bit more difficult for Maye to air it out. But that will also (presumably) make establishing the run just as tough, so the quarterback will have to move the ball with urgency.<\/p>\n

Based on what we know now from Jaggi, Maye will have a weak spot to throw to where Jenkins is lined up, which could be a recipe for the Patriots’ first win of the season.<\/p>\n

On top of everything else, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. missed last week because of a <\/a>coach’s decision as he recovers from a back injury while seeking a contract extension. He hasn’t practiced much over the last few weeks, and he likely won’t play this week either.<\/p>\n

If that’s the case, the Steelers’ secondary will be more depleted than expected, giving Maye the perfect opportunity to regain some confidence and shut down the ongoing narratives about his decision-making as a passer.<\/p>\n

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