The New England Patriots lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-14, committing five turnovers.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled twice, once at the goal line, after a strong performance the previous week.
Despite the loss, coach Mike Vrabel noted positive aspects of rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s performance.
FOXBOROUGH, MA — The goal line, for an offense, typically means scoring chances.
For the New England Patriots’ offense Sunday in a 21-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was the site of calamity – on two separate, equally hurtful occasions. Every time it felt like the Patriots were building momentum, disaster struck.
The Patriots turned the ball over five times – four fumbles by three different players and one interception – compared to the Steelers’ lone turnover (an Aaron Rodgers interception). The game was there for the taking, except New England quite literally coughed it up. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye outplayed Rodgers, however, by completing 28 of 37 passes for (both to tight end Hunter Henry) and a pick.
“I’m not going to state the obvious,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said. “We just have to not give them so many chances with the turnovers, take care of those things. There’s a lot to clean up. A lot of good in there, but unfortunately just not enough to get us to win, to get us to really have any sort of advantage in a football game.”
Worse than the Patriots’ mistakes was their timing. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson’s first error of the game happened three plays into the proceedings and less than two minutes had ticked off the clock. With the Patriots trying to tie the game at 14, he fumbled at the goal line early in the third quarter. Maye’s interception came seven seconds before halftime on a pass intended for Kayshon Boutte that Steelers’ defensive lineman Cam Heyward tipped at the line of scrimmage and fell into the hands of Brandin Echols. The play lingered in Maye’s mind as he headed to halftime.
“It stings just knowing we hurt ourselves,” he said, “and that’s what cost us.”
What Vrabel wants his young quarterback to understand, he said, is that winning can’t be accomplished in one play. Moving on to the next one is sometimes just as important.
“You can’t put the ball in harm’s way at that position,” Vrabel said. “But certainly Drake wasn’t alone.”
Maye’s fumble came in the fourth quarter when Nick Herbig forced the ball out and T.J. Watt recovered it; the Steelers went on their game-winning drive with the ensuing possession. Maye said he saw rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson break open late and he “tried to do something stupid” to get him the ball, thus exposing the pigskin.
But Vrabel said plenty of positives emerged – Maye’s ability to extend plays, scramble and pick up first downs (he rushed seven times for 45 yards) with his legs while delivering the ball consistently within his progression from the pocket.
“There’s a lot of good things in there, just some decision making that we need to have be better for him and for himself,” Vrabel said.
Stevenson, meanwhile, led all running backs last season with seven fumbles. His pair against Pittsburgh confounded his coach. In a 33-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins last week, Stevenson had 54 rushing yards and 88 receiving yards. This week, he cost his team the game. Figuring out how to deal with the yin and yang of his performances is something Vrabel said he can’t decide 20 minutes after the game ended.
“It’s like you sit there, and we were so excited about him and everybody is excited about him, the fans are, and we know what his capabilities are, and we’ve got to get him back,” Vrabel said. “We need him. We absolutely need him. You see what he was able to do for us last week, his ability to make some plays.
“We need him because he helped us win the game last week, and it was a different story today.”
It will be the same tale going forward for the Patriots until the turnover troubles are reversed.
All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.