The New England Patriots picked up their first win of the 2026 regular season in convincing fashion Sunday, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3 at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots improved to 1-1 while handing Pittsburgh its first loss of the season.
New England’s defense was the story from start to finish. The Patriots held the Steelers to just 235 total yards and forced two turnovers, while Aaron Rodgers struggled under constant pressure. Rodgers finished 23-of-39 for 187 yards, one interception and was sacked four times.
The Patriots jumped ahead in the first quarter when TreVeyon Henderson broke loose for a 39-yard touchdown run in his season debut. Henderson finished with 76 rushing yards on 16 carries, giving New England an important spark on the ground.
Drake Maye had a relatively quiet afternoon but made enough plays to help the Patriots control the game. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards and threw one interception. Romeo Doubs also made an impact after a quiet Patriots debut, catching three passes for 96 yards, including a 63-yard reception that set up a field goal.
The biggest play came early in the fourth quarter. Christian Barmore stripped Rodgers, and Elijah Ponder recovered the fumble and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. That gave New England a 20-3 advantage and essentially put the game away.
Pittsburgh struggled to find any offensive rhythm, converting just two of 12 third downs. The Steelers also couldn’t capitalize on several opportunities, while New England’s defense continued to create pressure and force mistakes.
For the Patriots, the victory provides a strong bounce-back after their Week 1 loss to Seattle. New England will now head on the road to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.
