The Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats from September 20, 2026, provide a detailed look at a defensive battle at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3, improving to 1-1 while Pittsburgh also moved to 1-1 after the Week 2 matchup.
The Patriots controlled the game with a combination of efficient rushing, explosive passing plays and strong defensive pressure. New England finished with 327 total yards, while Pittsburgh managed 235. The Steelers also struggled on third down, converting only 2 of 12 opportunities.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots Final Score
The final score was New England Patriots 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 3. New England established a 7-0 advantage in the first quarter after TreVeyon Henderson broke a 39-yard touchdown run. Pittsburgh answered only with a 56-yard Chris Boswell field goal before halftime.
The Patriots added a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter, a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter and a defensive touchdown in the fourth. Elijah Ponder recovered Aaron Rodgers’ fumble and returned it 19 yards for the final touchdown of the afternoon.
Game Scoring Summary
The opening quarter belonged to New England after Henderson turned a running opportunity into a 39-yard touchdown. Andy Borregales converted the extra point, giving the Patriots a 7-0 lead with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter.
New England extended the advantage through field goals before Pittsburgh finally got on the board with Boswell’s 56-yard kick. Borregales added another field goal in the third quarter, and Ponder’s fumble-return touchdown in the fourth quarter completed the 20-3 result.
| Quarter | Steelers | Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 7 |
| 2nd | 3 | 3 |
| 3rd | 0 | 3 |
| 4th | 0 | 7 |
| Final | 3 | 20 |
Pittsburgh Steelers Passing Stats
Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of 39 passes for 187 yards, with no passing touchdowns and one interception. His passing production was limited by New England’s pressure and coverage, and the Steelers were unable to consistently create scoring opportunities through the air.
Mason Rudolph also appeared late in the game and finished 0-of-1 passing for zero yards. Overall, Pittsburgh’s passing attack struggled to generate the explosive plays needed to overcome New England’s defensive performance.
| Steelers QB | Comp/Att | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | 23/39 | 187 | 0 | 1 |
| Mason Rudolph | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
New England Patriots Passing Stats
Drake Maye completed 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards, with no passing touchdowns and one interception. Although he did not throw a touchdown, Maye produced several important completions, including a deep connection with Romeo Doubs that helped New England generate offensive momentum.
Maye’s passing efficiency complemented a productive Patriots rushing attack. New England did not need a high-volume passing performance because its running game and defense consistently helped maintain control of the contest.
| Patriots QB | Comp/Att | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | 14/22 | 208 | 0 | 1 |
Pittsburgh Steelers Rushing Stats
Jaylen Warren led Pittsburgh’s rushing attack with 11 carries for 43 yards. Rico Dowdle added 22 yards on seven attempts, while Travis Homer contributed 16 yards on only two carries.
The Steelers finished with 91 rushing yards, compared with 137 rushing yards for New England. Pittsburgh’s inability to consistently move the ball on the ground contributed to the offense’s overall difficulty sustaining drives.
| Steelers Rusher | Carries | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Warren | 11 | 43 | 0 |
| Rico Dowdle | 7 | 22 | 0 |
| Travis Homer | 2 | 16 | 0 |
New England Patriots Rushing Stats
TreVeyon Henderson was one of the game’s most important offensive contributors, finishing with 16 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown. His 39-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave New England the early lead and immediately put pressure on Pittsburgh.
Rhamondre Stevenson added 43 yards on six carries, while Drake Maye contributed 17 rushing yards. The Patriots finished with 137 rushing yards and averaged more yards per play overall than Pittsburgh.
| Patriots Rusher | Carries | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| TreVeyon Henderson | 16 | 76 | 1 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 6 | 43 | 0 |
| Drake Maye | 4 | 17 | 0 |
Pittsburgh Steelers Receiving Stats
Germie Bernard led the Steelers with four receptions for 35 yards. Jaylen Warren added two receptions for 34 yards, while Pat Freiermuth caught four passes for 32 yards.
Pittsburgh’s receiving production was relatively limited throughout the game. The Steelers did not record a passing touchdown, and the Patriots’ defensive pressure helped prevent the offense from developing sustained scoring drives.
| Steelers Receiver | Receptions | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germie Bernard | 4 | 35 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | 2 | 34 | 0 |
| Pat Freiermuth | 4 | 32 | 0 |
New England Patriots Receiving Stats
Romeo Doubs produced the biggest receiving performance for New England with three receptions for 96 yards. His longest catch went for 63 yards, providing the Patriots with an important explosive play in the passing game.
Hunter Henry finished with three receptions for 40 yards, while Eli Raridon added one catch for 30 yards. The Patriots’ ability to combine Doubs’ explosive reception with Henderson’s rushing production helped balance the offense.
| Patriots Receiver | Receptions | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romeo Doubs | 3 | 96 | 0 |
| Hunter Henry | 3 | 40 | 0 |
| Eli Raridon | 1 | 30 | 0 |
Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Stats
Pittsburgh’s defense created several positive moments despite the final score. The Steelers recorded three sacks and eight tackles for loss, while T.J. Watt finished with 1.5 sacks and Alex Highsmith added another sack.
Patrick Queen also recorded an interception, and Nick Herbig forced a fumble that was recovered by Payton Wilson. However, the defensive effort could not fully compensate for Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles and the late defensive touchdown allowed by the Steelers.
New England Patriots Defensive Stats
New England’s defense was central to the 20-3 victory. The Patriots recorded four sacks, including the decisive fourth-quarter strip-sack by Christian Barmore that led directly to Elijah Ponder’s 19-yard fumble-return touchdown.
Christian Elliss led the Patriots with 12 tackles, while the defensive unit consistently pressured Rodgers and limited Pittsburgh’s ability to convert third downs. The Steelers finished only 2-of-12 on third down.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots Team Stats
The Patriots finished with 327 total yards, including 137 rushing yards and 190 net passing yards. Pittsburgh recorded 235 total yards, with 91 rushing yards and 144 net passing yards.
Possession time favored Pittsburgh at 32:47 compared with New England’s 27:13, but the Patriots were more productive with their opportunities. New England averaged 6.2 yards per play compared with Pittsburgh’s 3.5.
| Team Stat | Steelers | Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 235 | 327 |
| Rushing Yards | 91 | 137 |
| Plays | 67 | 53 |
| Yards per Play | 3.5 | 6.2 |
| Time of Possession | 32:47 | 27:13 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Penalties | 5 | 6 |
| Penalty Yards | 59 | 31 |
Key Plays From the Game
The first major turning point came when Henderson broke his 39-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The play gave New England an early advantage and demonstrated the Patriots’ ability to create explosive gains on the ground.
The decisive moment came in the fourth quarter. Christian Barmore forced a fumble from Rodgers, and Elijah Ponder recovered it before returning the ball 19 yards for a touchdown. That play changed the score from 13-3 to 20-3 and effectively ended Pittsburgh’s comeback hopes.
Final Takeaway
The September 20 matchup was defined by New England’s defense, efficient rushing attack and ability to produce explosive plays. Henderson’s touchdown run, Doubs’ 96 receiving yards and Ponder’s defensive touchdown were among the most notable individual contributions in the Patriots’ 20-3 victory.
For Pittsburgh, Rodgers finished with 187 passing yards and the Steelers managed only 235 total yards. Despite recording multiple defensive plays behind the line of scrimmage, Pittsburgh could not generate enough offensive production, particularly on third down, to keep pace with New England.
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