Venue & Logistics
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM ET
Broadcast: CBS: Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt, Evan Washburn (field reporter)
Weather Forecast (Foxborough, MA)
Conditions: Partly cloudy, mild afternoon
Temperature: ~74°F (23°C) at kickoff, cooling to 68°F (20°C) by the fourth quarter
Winds: 7–11 mph from the southwest
Precipitation: ~15% chance of light showers
Impact: Minimal; excellent football weather
Injury Report
Pittsburgh Steelers:
QB Aaron Rodgers (toe soreness) – Probable
WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) – Questionable
LB Alex Highsmith (ankle) – Questionable
DT Isaiahh Loudermilk (shoulder) – Questionable
New England Patriots:
QB Drake Maye (healthy, starting)
WR Stefon Diggs (recovering from major injury) – Out
OT Morgan Moses (knee) – Questionable
CB Montaric Brown (concussion protocol) – Out
Key Player Matchups
Aaron Rodgers (PIT) vs. Patriots’ Secondary – Rodgers was sharp in Week 1 but struggled in Week 2 with 2 INTs; New England will look to pressure him into mistakes.
Drake Maye (NE) vs. Steelers’ Pass Rush – Maye accounted for 3 TDs in Week 2; Pittsburgh’s front seven must contain his mobility.
Najee Harris (PIT) vs. Patriots’ Run Defense – Harris has been bottled up so far; Patriots rank middle of the pack against the run.
Patriots’ WR Corps vs. Steelers’ Secondary – With Diggs sidelined, Maye will spread the ball to role players; Pittsburgh must avoid giving up chunk plays.
Recent Team Form
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1):
W at New York Jets 27-24 (Week 1)
L vs. Seattle Seahawks 31-17 (Week 2)
Offense averaging 22.0 PPG; defense allowing 27.0 PPG.
New England Patriots (1-1):
L vs. Las Vegas Raiders 24-14 (Week 1)
W at Miami Dolphins 33-27 (Week 2)
Offense averaging 23.5 PPG; defense allowing 25.5 PPG.
Series History
All-Time Meetings: Steelers lead 17–16
Most Recent: Patriots defeated Steelers 21-18 in 2023
Trend: Patriots have won 6 of the last 8 meetings
Betting Trends
Steelers are 1-4 ATS in last 5 road games.
Patriots are 2-3 ATS in last 5 home games.
The Over has hit in 4 of New England’s last 5 home games.
The Under is 3-2 in Pittsburgh’s last 5 games.
Historical Betting Results
2023: Patriots +6.5, won 21-18 → Cover, Under
2019: Patriots -5.5, won 33-3 → Cover, Over
2018: Steelers +2.5, won 17-10 → Cover, Under
STEELERS NOTES:
• QB AARON RODGERS passed for 203 yards & TD last week. Needs TD pass to surpass HOFer Brett Favre (508) for 4th-most & needs 42 pass yards to surpass Philip Rivers (63,440) for 6th-most in NFL history. Has 230+ pass yards & 2 TD passes in each of his past 5 starts vs. NE. • RB JAYLEN WARREN led team with 134 scrimmage yards (career-high 86 rec., 48 rush) in Week 2. • WR DK METCALF had TD catch last week. Has 90+ rec. yards & TD catch in both career games vs. NE, incl. 10 catches for 129 yards & TD in his only game at NE (9/15/24 w/ Sea.). • TE PAT FREIERMUTH had 3 catches for 31 yards in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in row with 25+ rec. yards. • TE JONNU SMITH co-led team with 4 catches last week. Has TD catch in 3 of his past 4. Had 9 catches for 87 yards & TD in his last game vs. NE (11/24/24 w/ Mia.). • LB T.J. WATT has 108 sacks in 123 games & can surpass HOFer DeMarcus Ware (110.5) for 2nd-most sacks in 1st 125 games since 1982. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NE with TFL. • DT CAMERON HEYWARD had 5 tackles & PD in Week 2. Has PD in each of his past 3, longest active streak by DT. Had 6 tackles & sack in last meeting. • LB NICK HERBIG co-led team with 2 TFL & had 1st-career INT last week. • LB PATRICK QUEEN had 6 tackles & TFL in Week 2. Aims for his 13th in row with 5+ tackles. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3. Has 5+ tackles & TFL in both career games vs. NE. • LB JACK SAWYER (rookie) had 5 tackles & 1st-career sack last week. • LB PAYTON WILSON led team with 9 tackles & had 1st-career sack in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ tackles & TFL. • CB JALEN RAMSEY led team with 2 PD & had 25th-career INT in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in row with PD. Has PD in each of his past 3 games vs. NE.
PATRIOTS NOTES:
• QB DRAKE MAYE completed 19 of 23 atts. (82.6 pct.) for 230 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with career-high 137.3 rating & rushed for 31 yards & TD in Week 2. • RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON led team with 142 scrimmage yards (88 rec., 54 rush) & 5 catches in Week 2. Rushed for 47 yards in his last game vs. Pit. (9/18/22). • WR KAYSHON BOUTTE had 1st TD catch of season last week. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3. • WR STEFON DIGGS had 4 catches for 32 yards in Week 2. Has 55+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3. Has 8+ catches, 100+ rec. yards & TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. Pit. • WR MACK HOLLINS had 1st TD catch of season last week. • TE HUNTER HENRY had 2 TD catches in last meeting. • DE MILTON WILLIAMS led team with 2 sacks in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. Has PD in both career games vs. Pit. • LB K’LAVON CHAISSON had sack last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 0.5+ sack. Had sack in his last game vs. Pit. (10/13/24 w/ LV). • LB CHRISTIAN ELLISS had 5 tackles last week. Aims for his 7th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB HAROLD LANDRY had sack in Week 2. Has sack in each of his past 3, tiedlongest active streak (Rashan Gary & Trey Hendrickson). • LB MARTE MAPU had 1st INT of season last week. • LB ROBERT SPILLANE had 3 tackles, sack & PD in Week 2. Spent 4 seasons with Pit. (2019-22). Had 8 tackles & PD in his last game vs. Pit. (10/13/24 w/ LV). • S KYLE DUGGER had 7 tackles, PD & half sack in last meeting. • S JAYLINN HAWKINS led team with 8 tackles last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. Had 5 tackles in his last game vs. Pit. (12/4/22 w/ Atl.). • S CRAIG WOODSON (rookie) had 6 tackles in Week 2. Is 1 of 4 rookies with 5+ tackles in each of 1st 2 weeks of season.
Game Odds
Pittsburgh Steelers – 1.5
New England Patriots 44.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, September 20, 2025
