Steelers DT Cameron Heyward: 'New England's not going to feel sorry for us'

Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward knows it’s unlikely Pittsburgh's defense will often force five turnovers as it did in a Week 1 win over Cincinnati. With outside linebacker T.J. Watt on injured reserve with a torn left pectoral, it's even more unlikely, so Heyward expects an aggressive offensive game plan from the Patriots.

“New England’s not going to feel sorry for us,” Heyward told reporters, including Corey Crisan of DK Pittsburgh Sports.

Watt will miss at least four games, but defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said the Steelers scheme won't change dramatically. 

“Structurally, we’re going to remain the same,” Austin said in a Thursday news conference, via Chris Halicke. 

In Week 1, the Steelers played the pass well, intercepting Joe Burrow four times and sacking him seven times. The Patriots passing game might be a weakness the Steelers can exploit. 

Second-year quarterback Mac Jones, who has experienced back spasms this week, missed practice on Thursday because of an unspecified illness, per ESPN NFL Nation Patriots reporter Mike Reiss.  

If Jones plays, he will throw into a tough secondary that features safety Minkah Fiztpatrick, the Week 1 AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

“Their secondary is kind of a ball hawking secondary,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a news conference Wednesday. “They go after the ball, read the quarterback well, do a good job of breaking on the throw and closing space quickly.”

The game will be the first since 2003 between the Steelers and Patriots without either Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger playing.