Hidden Disadvantage Set To Give Steelers A Problem Against Patriots In Week 3

It hasn't been an easy start to the 2025 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The word "rollercoaster" comes to mind because of how many inconsistencies have been present through two meaningful contests. In Week 3, the organization will travel on the road to play the New England Patriots, a team that is coming off of its first win of the Mike Vrabel-coaching era. There will be a lot of familiarity in the matchup, and that will provide positives and negatives for both franchises. For Head Coach Mike Tomlin, he could have a disadvantage before the game ever starts.

With both teams entering Week 3 with records of 1-1, it will be critical to get a win to avoid slipping under .500 so early in the year. A lot has changed in New England in recent seasons, but most things with the Steelers have stayed the same. Tomlin and Vrabel have had several battles in the past, but it's not the Patriots' head coach that could be the difference-maker in the game.

Ray Fittipaldo held a fan chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday, and someone asked him about Tomlin's issues with New England when Tom Brady was playing in a Josh McDaniels-led offense. While Brady is no longer there, McDaniels' ability to dominate Tomlin in the past could come back to bite Pittsburgh on Sunday in Foxborough.  

"It's hard to like any matchup right now for the Steelers given how poorly they are playing on defense," Fittipaldo wrote, "They are 29th in the NFL in total defense and scoring defense. And you are right. [McDaniels] does know how to scheme against Tomlin's defense."

McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots from the 2012 to 2021 seasons. He returned in 2025 to be on Vrabel's staff. During McDaniels' first stint in New England, a Tomlin-led Steelers team had an abysmal record of 1-8 (including the postseason) versus the Patriots. In those matchups, Pittsburgh allowed just over 28 points per game, and that is a recipe for disaster in the NFL.

Familiarity can be a very helpful thing at the professional level, and while Tomlin certainly knows McDaniels, he clearly has never been capable of out-smarting him on a consistent basis. The numbers don't lie and when McDaniels is calling plays for the Patriots, the Steelers do not perform well. It may be different rosters this time around, but it's hard to ignore the past history between the two.