Steelers' Performance In 17-14 Loss To Patriots Ridiculed By Media

PITTSBURGH, PA — An anemic offense, a defense clearly missing the absence of superstar linebacker T.J. Watt and inept special teams play all were contributing factors in the Steelers losing 17-14 to the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Here's what sports writers across the country are saying about the game:

• Brooke Pryor, ESPN: "For the second week in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers' conservative offensive plan held them back, and this time, a short-handed defense couldn't save them...The Steelers said they needed to play with a "killer instinct" in Week 2, and for most of the afternoon, they played with anything but."

• John Breech, CBS Sports: "The Steelers' defense played well without T.J. Watt. But they were unable to sack Mac Jones and were also unable to come up with a key stop while allowing the Patriots to control the ball for the final six-plus minutes of the game. Pittsburgh continues to struggled to run the ball, as Najee Harris finished with less than 50 yards for a third straight game dating back to last season."

• Peter King, NBC Sports: (Among the goats of the week): Gunner Olszewski, punt-returner, Pittsburgh. The former Patriot said to New England media the other day: “Playing the old team, the team that didn’t want you, sure I want to go out there and show what I can do.” Late in the third quarter at Heinz Field, with the Patriots holding a 10-6 lead, Olszewski did. The Patriots’ punt hit Olszewski in the facemask, New England recovered, and scored to go up 17-6. That was a huge play in New England’s 17-14 win.

• Kevin Patra, NFL.com: "Could the Kenny Pickett era be coming soon? Mitchell Trubisky was a check-down king on Sunday, throwing short time and time and time again. Watching the starting QB throw 1-yard passes on third-and-longs as the Steelers tried to come back was particularly frustrating. Trubisky threw for just 168 yards on 33 attempts with one TD and one interception while taking three sacks."

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