New England Patriots at The Pittsburgh Steelers (9/18, 1:00pm)

The New England Patriots visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2.

The Steelers are fresh off a surprise overtime win over last year’s AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. QB Mitch Trubisky put in a serviceable performance, but it was Pittsburgh’s defense that took advantage of multiple turnovers from Bengals QB Joe Burrows to keep the Steelers in the game. Bad news for Steelers: star LB TJ Watt has a “suspected torn pectoral muscle” and will be out for the Patriots game (and maybe out for the entire season).

The early returns on the 2022-23 New England Patriots are dreadful. Sports departments around the region are clamoring to have the loudest negative take. Chief among the complaints: Mac Jones is regressing, low offensive production, and lack of coaching leadership. After not naming an offensive coordinator all offseason, so the thinking goes, the chickens are coming home to roost. Plus, Mac Jones had an injury scare (though, as of midweek, it looks like he’s good to play).

Is it too early to panic?

Week 1 is always too early for panic. Week 2 will give HC Bill Belichick a chance to show he can gameplan a win against a mediocre QB like Mitch Trubisky. The defense is going to have to do more than it did against Tua Tagovailoa, who only scored one passing TD but was moving the ball up and down the field with relative ease.

What to look for?

The Patriots need more production from their receiver group. Some of that is Mac Jones finding the open man better. Some of that is coaches calling better plays. Some of that comes down to individual playmaking from the receivers themselves. Right now WR Jakobi Meyers looks like Mac Jones’ most comfortable target, leading the group with 4 catches for 55 yards and no scores. That’s a fine stat line for a third receiver, but not your top performer.

New arrival Devante Parker, who had 1 catch for 9 yards, needs to reinvent himself as the Pats’ #1 WR. He has the physical attributes to do it, and flashed that potential on his previous team Dolphins. The time is now.

The Steelers will look to maintain their winning momentum after a morale-boosting win over the Bengals. QB Mitch Trubisky will be hyper-motivated with #1 draft pick, rookie QB Kenny Pickett breathing down his neck. Pittsburgh should give Trubisky a fair chance to keep his job, and that will involve outplaying a Bill Belichick-schemed defense. Most other years that would be an impossible feat for the Bears-castoff, but 2022 is looking pretty bleak so far. If the Steelers can get their running game going in Week 2, the Patriots could be looking at a 0-2 start to the season.

For Boston Fans

WATCH: Boston, Mass. WBZ-TV Ch. 4

LISTEN: 98.5 The Sports Hub

#humpFL #foreverNE #HereWeGo