In a tightly contested game, the New England Patriots managed to hold off a second-half comeback from the Pittsburgh Steelers to secure a three point victory on the road.
Game Details
Date and Time: December 7, 2023, 8:15 PM EST
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Final Score
Pittsburgh Steelers: 18
New England Patriots: 21
Quarterly Breakdown
Pittsburgh Steelers
Q1: 3 – Q2: 7 – Q3: 0 – Q4: 8
Total: 18
New England Patriots
Q1: 7 – Q2: 14 – Q3: 0 – Q4: 0
Total: 21
Game Highlights
Key moments from the game included:
- 11:12 of First Quarter: Ezekiel Elliott 11 Yd pass from Bailey Zappe (Chad Ryland Kick) – New England Patriots
- 14:14 of Second Quarter: Hunter Henry 8 Yd pass from Bailey Zappe (Chad Ryland Kick) – New England Patriots
- 7:38 of Second Quarter: Hunter Henry 24 Yd pass from Bailey Zappe (Chad Ryland Kick) – New England Patriots
- 2:50 of Second Quarter: Diontae Johnson 25 Yd pass from Mitch Trubisky (Chris Boswell Kick) – Pittsburgh Steelers
- 11:44 of Fourth Quarter: Mitch Trubisky 1 Yd Run (Mitch Trubisky Pass to Pat Freiermuth for Two-Point Conversion) – Pittsburgh Steelers
Team Performance
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers managed to rally in the fourth quarter, but a dreadful first half showing proved to be their undoing. The Steelers amassed just 264 tards overall, with 182 gained through the air and 82 on the ground.
The team had a total of 18 first downs, plus one turnover – a Mitch Trubisky interception that led to a Pats touchdown.
New England Patriots
PRIMEtime dub. pic.twitter.com/EEM9zi7jyi
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 8, 2023
New England came out strong in the opening half and despite not scoring in the second half, they managed to do enough to secure the victory. QB Bailey Zappe produced a fantastic first half performance, throwing for three TDs and completing a number of crucial passes.
The Patriots amassed a total of 303 yards, with 222 coming from passes and 81 from rushes. They recorded 14 first downs and committed one turnover – a second half interception from Zappe.
Division Standings
The Pittsburgh Steelers remain two games behind the Ravens in the AFC North, but drop to 8th in the AFC rankings. If the season ended today, they would miss out on a Playoff spot.
The New England Patriots are still at the bottom of the AFC East Division, but their third win of the season puts them just one game behind the 4-8 New York Jets.
Upcoming Games
Next up, the Steelers face a vital clash with the Colts. Whoever wins that game will be in a great position to secure a AFC Wild Card place. Meanwhile, the Pats have a daunting home tie against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Conclusion
This shock New England Patriots win could well spark a turnaround for the struggling franchise. As for the Steelers, this second successive defeat puts a huge dent in their Playoff hopes.
