Steelers at Patriots: Full highlights and recap
On Thursday night, the New England Patriots ran their record to 1-0 with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-21, at Gillette Stadium. The recently exonerated Tom Brady was sublime, leading New England past an overwhelmed Pittsburgh defense.
Next: Ranking The 32 NFL Defenses For 2015
The storyline could have been different had Steelers kicker Josh Scobee not missed two first-half field goals, allowing New England to get a 14-0 advantage before Scobee finally hit a kick in the dying seconds of the first half. However, the Patriots dominated the second half, moving with short throws and yards after the catch.
Highlights
Gronkowski scoring his third touchdown, effectively sealing the game…
All three Gronkowski touchdowns, because he’s Gronk.
Easily the catch of the night…
In a game with a ton of incredible catches, this Markus Wheaton tip-toe sideliner might be the best. #Kickoff2015 http://t.co/L1CHOI3h6i
— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2015
Three Stars
1. Rob Gronkowski
Gronkowski was able to dominate Pittsburgh throughout the night. There had been talk about Pittsburgh planning on jamming the massive tight end, but they were never able to disrupt his routes. Gronkowski finished the contest with five catches, 94 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
2. Tom Brady
After getting the four-game suspension overturned in federal court, Brady took the field and destroyed any notion that he would be rusty. The future Hall of Famer completed 25-of-32 passes for 288 yards and four touchdown without an interception. Brady was everything you could have hoped for if you pull for the Patriots. If you root for Pittsburgh … sorry.
3. Antonio Brown
Brown finished with 129 catches last year, and he is off to a heck of a start in 2015. Brown caught nine passes for 133 yards and a late score, showcasing his immense ability. The former sixth-round pick out of Central Michigan will need to carry the receivers on his back for four games, with Martavis Bryant suspended.
Odds
New England was favored by 7.5 points, and failed to cover the spread.
Next Week
The Patriots will be traveling to take on the Buffalo Bills while the Steelers enjoy their home-opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
Want more?
For more on the Patriots, check out Musket Fire. To read about the Steelers, head over to Still Curtain.