The Patriots came out of the gate firing and putting points on the scoreboard, building an early lead that they were able to hang on to through the second half, knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-18.
The win breaks New England's five-game losing streak and gives Bailey Zappe his first win as a starting quarterback this season. Zappe was outstanding early, throwing for three first-half touchdowns as he brought the passing offense to life with some well-delivered strikes, though it was more of a struggle to move the ball in the second half, when an interception and blocked punt made things interesting down to the game's final minutes.
It was another strong performance by the Patriots defense, which frustrated the Steelers offense for most of the game. However, second-half miscues by the offense and special teams put them in some difficult spots. They made one fourth-down stop off the first turnover but allowed a touchdown off the blocked punt. But, in the end, the defense made the final stops necessary to hang on.
Here are the key takeaways from the victory!
SEE HERE
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