Steelers 3, Patriots 20: drive chart, EPA and box score

Week 2 · Sun, Sep 20 · Gillette StadiumFinal

Final

	1	2	3	4	T
PIT	0	3	0	0	3
NE	7	3	3	7	20

Home · 5-4New EnglandPatriots20

At a glanceUpdated Nov 10, 2026, 5:53 PM ET

The New England Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3 on Sun, Sep 20 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA (Week 2, 2026 season). Records after the game: Steelers 6-2, Patriots 5-4. R.Doubs (NE) led all players with +5.6 EPA on 4 targets.

Who won Steelers vs Patriots?

The New England Patriots won 20-3. By quarter: PIT 0-3-0-0, NE 7-3-3-7.

Who was the best player in Steelers vs Patriots?

By expected points added: R.Doubs (NE, +5.6 EPA on 4 targets), R.Stevenson (NE, +1.8 EPA on 6 carries) and R.Wilson (PIT, +0.4 EPA on 6 targets).

What was the turning point of Steelers vs Patriots?

The biggest swing in win probability (8 points toward the Patriots) came in Q3 at 2:12: (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep right to R.Doubs pushed ob at PIT 29 for 63 yards (R.Jenkins).

Cite this page

Pigskin Nightly, “Steelers 3, Patriots 20: Week 2 recap”, https://pigskinnightly.com/games/2026-09-20-pit-at-ne (updated 2026-11-10).

How we calculate Plain-text version Report an error

The Verdict

Week 2 issue →

Week 2EarnedGame file →

Steelers37% success · −0.28 EPA/play

320

Patriots41% success · −0.09 EPA/play

PIT 2% deserveddeserved 98% NE

Patriots earned it: the snaps said Patriots by 11.6, a deserved win probability of 98%.

Deserved marginNE by 11.6

Real marginNE by 17

Luck pts PIT+3.6

Luck pts NE−1.2

The swingQ1 11:32 · NE · −12 pts of win probability. 10-D.Maye pass short left to 38-R.Stevenson to PIT 31 for 3 yards (51-N.Herbig). FUMBLES (51-N.Herbig), RECOVERED by PIT-41-P.Wilson at PIT 31. PENALTY on PIT-5-J.Ramsey, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced at PIT 31.

Flags that moved this game

1Defensive OffsidePIT → helped NE · Wk 2 Q1 9:26 · (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye sacked at NE 46 for -10 yards (5-J.Ramsey). PENALTY on PIT-56-A.Highsmith, Defensive Offside, 4 yards,…+4.6 WP
2Illegal Use of HandsNE → helped PIT · Wk 2 Q3 11:34 · (Shotgun) 8-A.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to 15-B.Skowronek. PENALTY on NE-14-R.Spillane, Illegal Use of Hands, 5 yards,…+2.2 WP

Fourth downs our model disagreed with

1PIT · 4th & 3Mike McCarthy chose Punt at own 44, Wk 2 Q3 2:22, down 7. Model: Go for it (lean). Result: punted.−0.58 EP

Deserved win probability from the snaps, fumble bounces evened out. How we judge

From the Lab

This game, re-drawn

All Lab tools →

Game DNA143 plays, one strand0 lead changes · 9 explosive plays · downloadable poster →

Officiating crewCarl Cheffers11 accepted flags in this game · 13.3 a game this season (one of the quietest crews)Market vs SnapsLine: NE by 4.5 · Snaps: NE by 11.6Patriots covered; the snaps agree

3@20

Week 2

If the 45-yard kick had missed

Steelers after the play14%what really happened

Q3 0:46 8-A.Borregales 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ashby, Holder-19-M.Wishnowsky.

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Home win probability, play by play

The river

100%

Hover, tap or drag along the river to read any play. Arrow keys work too. Click to jump to its drive.

NE ▲PIT ▼

Q1Q2Q3Q4

The five biggest swings

+8%Q3 2:12 · for NE(Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep right to R.Doubs pushed ob at PIT 29 for 63 yards (R.Jenkins).
+8%Q1 8:22 · for NE(Shotgun) T.Henderson left guard for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. A.Borregales extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Ashby, Holder-M.Wishnowsky.
+8%Q1 11:32 · for PITD.Maye pass short left to R.Stevenson to PIT 31 for 3 yards (N.Herbig). FUMBLES (N.Herbig), RECOVERED by PIT-P.Wilson at PIT 31.PENALTY on PIT-J.Ramsey, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced at PIT 31.
+6%Q4 13:37 · for NE(Shotgun) A.Rodgers sacked at PIT 21 for -9 yards (C.Barmore). FUMBLES (C.Barmore) [C.Barmore], RECOVERED by NE-E.Ponder at PIT 19. E.Ponder for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. A.Borregales extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Ashby, Holder-M.Wishnowsky.
+6%Q2 8:05 · for NE(Shotgun) A.Rodgers sacked at NE 31 for -9 yards (C.Elliss). FUMBLES (C.Elliss) [C.Elliss], touched at NE 30, recovered by PIT-T.Fautanu at PIT 42.

Every drive, on the field

NE attacks →← PIT attacks

Q1 15:00PUNT3p · 3y · 1:40
Q1 13:20FUM4p · 46y · 2:03
Q1 11:17PUNT3p · 4y · 1:00
Q1 10:17TD4p · 49y · 1:55
Q1 8:22MISS8p · 35y · 4:12
Q1 4:10FG9p · 41y · 4:56
Q2 14:14PUNT12p · 12y · 6:50
Q2 7:24PUNT4p · 29y · 2:19
Q2 5:05PUNT7p · 27y · 3:17
Q2 1:48PUNT3p · 0y · 1:08
Q2 0:40FG6p · 27y · 0:40
Q3 15:00INT4p · 34y · 2:11
Q3 12:49PUNT7p · 29y · 3:44
Q3 9:05MISS10p · 56y · 5:15
Q3 3:50PUNT3p · 7y · 1:38
Q3 2:12FG5p · 65y · 1:29
Q3 0:43FUM3p · -9y · 2:06
Q4 13:37PUNT3p · -6y · 1:34
Q4 12:03PUNT5p · 12y · 2:10
Q4 9:53INT11p · 75y · 4:44
Q4 5:09PUNT3p · 5y · 1:46
Q4 3:23PUNT3p · 8y · 1:22
Q4 2:01END5p · 14y · 2:01

Steelers12 drives2scoring drives (1 TD)17%drives ending in pointsOWN 25avg starting field position5three-and-outs2turnovers incl. downs

Patriots10 drives3scoring drives (1 TD)30%drives ending in pointsOWN 28avg starting field position2three-and-outs2turnovers incl. downs

Scoring summary

Q1
8:22Touchdown(Shotgun) T.Henderson left guard for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. A.Borregales extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Ashby, Holder-M.Wishnowsky.0–7
Q2
14:14Field goal A.Borregales 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Ashby, Holder-M.Wishnowsky.0–10
Q2
0:00Field goalC.Boswell 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.3–10
Q3
0:43Field goalA.Borregales 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Ashby, Holder-M.Wishnowsky.3–13
Q4
13:37Touchdown(Shotgun) A.Rodgers sacked at PIT 21 for -9 yards (C.Barmore). FUMBLES (C.Barmore) [C.Barmore], RECOVERED by NE-E.Ponder at PIT 19. E.Ponder for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. A.Borregales extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Ashby, Holder-M.Wishnowsky.3–20

Team stats

PITvsNE

235Total yards327

144Passing yards191

91Rushing yards136

3.5Yards per play6.2

16First downs15

2-12 · 17%Third down4-12 · 33%

1-1Fourth down0-0

0-1Red zone TDs0-1

23/40Comp / att14/22

4.0Yards per carry4.9

2Turnovers2

4 (−43 yds)Sacks allowed3 (−17 yds)

5 for 59Penalties6 for 31

32:47Possession27:13

Expected points added · nflverse model

The game in EPA

EPA per play-0.356-0.070

Dropback EPA-0.485-0.130

Rush EPA-0.074-0.002

Success rate37%41%

Explosive plays38

Plays6751

Who moved the needle

R.DoubsTargets: 4+5.6

R.StevensonCarries: 6+1.8

R.WilsonTargets: 6+0.4

J.WarrenTargets: 4-0.0

P.FreiermuthTargets: 5-0.3

T.HendersonCarries: 16-1.6

Cost their side the most

A.RodgersDropbacks: 44-21.2

G.BernardTargets: 8-3.7

D.MayeDropbacks: 27-3.5

Box score

Pittsburgh Steelers

Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Aaron RodgersQB	23/39	187	4.8	0	1	4-43	21.9	60.5
Mason RudolphQB	0/1	0	0.0	0	0	0-0	0.4	39.6

Rushing	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG
Jaylen WarrenRB	11	43	3.9	10
Rico DowdleRB	7	22	3.1	6
Travis HomerRB	2	16	8.0	14
Aaron RodgersQB	1	5	5.0	5
Mason RudolphQB	1	3	3.0	3
Pat FreiermuthTE	1	2	2.0	2

Receiving	REC	TGTS	YDS	AVG	LONG
Germie BernardWR	4	8	35	8.8	19
Jaylen WarrenRB	2	4	34	17.0	26
Pat FreiermuthTE	4	5	32	8.0	9
Roman WilsonWR	5	6	28	5.6	9
DK MetcalfWR	4	9	27	6.8	16
Rico DowdleRB	2	2	22	11.0	13
Darnell WashingtonTE	1	2	7	7.0	7
Ben SkowronekWR	1	1	2	2.0	2

Defense	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HTS
Derrick HarmonDT	8	1	0.5	0	0	1
Nick HerbigLB	7	4	0	3	0	0
Payton WilsonLB	6	4	0	1	0	0
Jaquan BriskerS	6	1	0	0	0	0
Rayshawn JenkinsS	5	4	0	0	0	0
Asante Samuel Jr.CB	5	3	0	0	1	0
Jalen RamseyCB	5	2	0	0	0	0
Robert Spears-JenningsS	4	3	0	0	0	0
T.J. WattLB	4	2	1.5	1	0	2
Alex HighsmithLB	3	2	1	2	1	3

Kicking	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Chris BoswellPK	1/2	50.0	56	0/0	3

New England Patriots

Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Drake MayeQB	14/22	208	9.5	0	1	3-17	62.8	75.6

Rushing	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
TreVeyon HendersonRB	16	76	4.8	1	39
Rhamondre StevensonRB	6	43	7.2	0	24
Drake MayeQB	4	17	4.3	0	13
Corey KinerRB	2	0	0.0	0	2

Receiving	REC	TGTS	YDS	AVG	LONG
Romeo DoubsWR	3	4	96	32.0	63
Hunter HenryTE	3	5	40	13.3	29
Eli RaridonTE	1	1	30	30.0	30
Mack HollinsWR	2	2	18	9.0	10
Kyle WilliamsWR	1	2	10	10.0	10
DeMario DouglasWR	1	2	9	9.0	9
Reggie GilliamFB	1	2	4	4.0	4
Rhamondre StevensonRB	1	2	3	3.0	3
Efton Chism IIIWR	1	1	-2	-2.0	-2

Defense	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HTS
Christian EllissLB	12	7	1	1	0	1
Charles WoodsCB	10	8	0	0	1	0
Craig WoodsonS	7	4	0	0	1	0
Robert SpillaneLB	6	3	0	0	0	1
Elijah PonderLB	5	3	1	3	0	2
Christian GonzalezCB	4	3	0	0	2	0
Kevin ByardS	4	2	0	0	0	0
Gabe JacasLB	3	1	0	0	1	1
Quintayvious HutchinsLB	3	0	0	0	0	0
Joshua FarmerDT	2	1	1	1	0	1

Kicking	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Andy BorregalesPK	2/3	66.7	45	2/2	8

Starters, confirmed

ConfirmedEvery game →

Confirmed from the official snap counts: at every position group the starters are the snap leaders. Expected lineup = today's depth chart, adjusted for the injury report.

Expected, did not start

Riley NowakowskiFB→ Rico Dowdle

Ben SkowronekWR→ Roman Wilson

Darnell WashingtonTE→ Pat Freiermuth

Brock HoffmanRG→ Dylan Cook

Max IheanachorRT→ Spencer Anderson

Yahya BlackLDE→ Derrick Harmon

Robert Spears-JenningsSS→ Rayshawn Jenkins

Corey KinerFB→ Reggie Gilliam

A.J. BrownWR→ Romeo Doubs

Walter RouseLG→ Alijah Vera-Tucker

Matt PryorRG→ Greg Van Roten