The 4-2 Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the 5-1 New England Patriots at Heinz Field in Week 7 of NFL action, and Pittsburgh was missing some big names on their roster for this game, primarily Ben Roethlisberger and Cameron Heyward. Nonetheless, the game would still be played and it was Pittsburgh who started the game with the football.
After a three-and-out, the Steelers got their first turnover after Jarvis Jones stripped Chris Hogan, and recovered the ball. Pittsburgh drove into the New England red zone, but Landry Jones threw an interception to Malcolm Butler on third down, ending the drive without any points. Tom Brady then orchestrated an 80-yard drive, taking up over 7:00 of game action, which resulted in a James White screen pass for a touchdown. The Stephen Gostkowski extra point made the score 7-0 in the first quarter.
The score stood into the second quarter, when the Steelers' offense failed to do anything, and Brady orchestrated yet another 84-yard time consuming drive which was capped off by a LeGarrette Blount touchdown run to give New England a 14-0 lead.
Pittsburgh responded with a drive of their own on their next possession. Landry Jones used both Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell to get into the red zone, and this time he found Darrius Heyward-Bey or the team's first touchdown of the game. The Chris Boswell extra point cut the New England lead in half 14-7.
The Steelers defense was able to get their first third down stop on the next drive, and after a shanked punt by Ryan Allen Pittsburgh had amazing field position. However, after driving into the red zone Chris Boswell missed a 42-yard field goal to give the ball back to the Patriots, but the Pittsburgh defense was able to get off the field again giving the ball to Landry Jones and the Pittsburgh offense with 1:47 left in the first half. Pittsburgh then executed a tremendous two-minute drill which ended in a Chris Boswell 32-yard field goal to make the score 14-10 as the two teams headed into halftime.
Pittsburgh's defense created some much needed momentum to start the second half with a three-and-out for the Patriots' offense. The defensive stand was followed by a nifty offensive drive which was capped off by a Boswell 46-yard field goal to make the New England lead 1-point, 14-13.
Behind LeGarrette Blount, the Patriots moved the ball into Pittsburgh territory with ease, and on a 3rd and 7 play Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for the 36-yard touchdown pass. However, Gostkowski missed the point after touchdown to make the score 20-13 with 6:19 left in the third quarter.
To start the fourth quarter, Landry Jones hit wide receiver Cobi Hamilton for some crucial third down conversions, setting up another Boswell field goal, a 44-yarder, to cut into the Patriots' lead, 20-16. New England wasted little time responding, and a big completion from Brady to Gronkowski set up a goal line touchdown for Blount, his second of the game. Gostowski nailed the point after to make the score 27-16 with 11:44 left in the game.
After a Julian Edelman fumble off a Jordan Berry punt, the Steelers chose to go for a Bosweell 54-yard field goal instead of a 4th and 2 conversion, and Boswell missed badly. Pittsburgh was able to force another New England punt, but was unable to do anything with the possession and gave the ball right back to the Patriots with 5:30 left in the game.