If you force five turnovers in an NFL game, you would assume it was an easy day at the office. A win that was never in question. Well, that was far from the case with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.
Pittsburgh won the game, but it took an Aaron Rodgers game-winning drive and Brandin Echols tackle to make sure it happened. Part of that is because the middle of the Steelers' defense let TE Hunter Henry feast. He had eight receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns, including a wide-open one where Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen looked lost. Why? Cam Heyward explained:
"I think sometimes we were not paying attention to our assignments" Heyward said postgame via the team's YouTube channel. "Sometimes you can get a little thirsty in there and think, oh, it's just gonna be a sneak or two. But then, on the flip side it can make you susceptible to big passes. We gotta have our eyes in the right places. This is something we can learn from."
Hunter Henry has another TD to even the score!
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025
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You can see on this touchdown that Wilson (No. 41) vacates the middle of the field and allows Henry straight up the seam for the TD. We will have to wait for the film and more quotes to provide clarity, but you can tell by the body language and reaction from Wilson and Queen that there was a mental error. Or to quote Heyward, someone not paying attention.
That's especially worrisome for Wilson. After starting the first two games, Wilson was replaced by Cole Holcomb to start the game, and he played sparingly on early downs. The Steelers did that in an effort to shore up their run defense after Wilson's early struggles.
@atozsportssteelers The #Steelers improve to 2-1 after a shaky win in New England #GoSteelers #NFLWeek3
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The team still allowed over 100 yards rushing but most of those came from Drake Maye. He had 45 of their 119 yards on the ground, with a by-committee approach filling in the rest. Not to mention, Cole Holcomb had a forced fumble to kick off the turnover fest.
Another look at that forced fumble from Cole Holcomb. His first start since November of 2023 and he’s making the most of it. #Steelers
— Rob Gregson (@NFL_Rob) September 21, 2025
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"I'm still pissed off. Some people might say we played good, I feel like it's a whole other level we can take it to. If we're clicking on all cylinders, that team don't score," said Queen after the game via Alan Saunders.
Queen is right, and that starts with figuring out the middle of that defense.
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