Honestly, if you looked at the box score without watching the game, you’d think the New England Patriots blew the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the water. They had more first downs. They nearly doubled Pittsburgh’s total yardage. Drake Maye looked like the real deal, throwing for nearly 270 yards while the legendary Aaron Rodgers—now in the twilight of his career wearing black and gold—struggled to hit the 140-yard mark.
But the only number that actually matters is the Steelers vs Patriots score, which ended 21-14 in favor of Pittsburgh.
It was a weird one. Really weird. You don't often see a team win while getting outgained 369 to 203, but that is the Mike Tomlin special. Or at least it was, considering this 2025 season turned out to be his final ride before stepping down. This Week 3 matchup at Gillette Stadium was a masterclass in "winning ugly," a phrase Pittsburgh fans have basically trademarked over the last decade.
The Five-Turnover Disaster in Foxborough
You cannot win in the NFL when you give the ball away five times. You just can't. New England learned that the hard way on September 21, 2025.
The game started with a thud for the home crowd. Rhamondre Stevenson, usually the most reliable piece of that New England backfield, coughed it up on the very first possession. Pittsburgh didn't hesitate. They marched 48 yards, helped along by an Alex Austin pass interference penalty, and Kenneth Gainwell punched it in from the one-yard line.
7-0 Steelers. Just like that.
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Then things got even sloppier. The Patriots were flagged for three different penalties on Pittsburgh's second drive—holding, unnecessary roughness, you name it. Aaron Rodgers didn't have to be "Prime Rodgers" to take advantage of that. He just stayed cool, found D.K. Metcalf (who has been a massive addition for this offense) for a 12-yard touchdown, and it was 14-0 before the snacks were even finished.
Breaking Down the Scoring
- 1st Quarter: Kenneth Gainwell 1-yard TD run (7-0 PIT)
- 2nd Quarter: D.K. Metcalf 12-yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers (14-0 PIT)
- 2nd Quarter: Hunter Henry 5-yard TD pass from Drake Maye (14-7 PIT)
- 4th Quarter: Hunter Henry 16-yard TD pass from Drake Maye (14-14)
- 4th Quarter: Calvin Austin III 17-yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers (21-14 PIT)
Why the Steelers vs Patriots Score Remained Close
Drake Maye has some serious guts. Despite the early hole and the mountain of turnovers—including an interception and a lost fumble of his own—he kept throwing. He found Hunter Henry for two scores, one in the second quarter and a beautiful 16-yarder to tie the game at 14-14 early in the fourth.
For a moment, it felt like the momentum had completely flipped. The Foxborough crowd was deafening.
But then, the veteran presence of Rodgers showed up. It wasn't a flashy drive, but it was methodical. Nine plays, 62 yards, and a lot of Jaylen Warren. Finally, Rodgers zipped a 17-yard pass to Calvin Austin III with just over two minutes left.
21-14.
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The Patriots had one last chance. They moved the ball to the Pittsburgh 28-yard line. It was 4th-and-1. A simple yard to keep the dream alive. Maye threw a quick out to DeMario Douglas, but Brandin Echols was right there. Loss of a yard. Game over.
The T.J. Watt Factor
We have to talk about number 90. While the offense was stuck in neutral for most of the second half, T.J. Watt was doing T.J. Watt things. He finished the day with two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
It’s kind of wild to realize that this was Pittsburgh’s first win at Gillette Stadium since 2008. Think about that. Since the year the iPhone 3G came out, the Steelers hadn't walked out of that stadium with a "W" until this game.
The defense, led by Watt and veteran Cam Heyward, basically built a wall at the goal line. At one point, Stevenson fumbled as he was crossing the plane for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown. Payton Wilson recovered it for a touchback. Those are the kinds of swings that don't show up in a simple "Steelers vs Patriots score" search but absolutely decided the season's trajectory.
Historic Context and Rivalry Shifts
This win was a massive milestone for Aaron Rodgers, too. During this game, he officially passed Brett Favre for 4th all-time in passing touchdowns and moved past Philip Rivers into 6th for all-time passing yards. Seeing him do it in a Steelers uniform is still a bit jarring for most fans, but 2025 was a year of transitions.
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New England, under Mike Vrabel, showed they have the bones of a good team, but the discipline just wasn't there. Five turnovers is an anomaly for most teams, but for the 2025 Pats, it was a recurring nightmare.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking back at this rivalry to predict future matchups, here’s what the data tells us:
- Watch the Turnover Margin: In the last three meetings, the team that won the turnover battle won the game 100% of the time. It sounds cliché, but for these two specifically, it’s the golden rule.
- The "Under" Trend: Despite having legendary QBs on the field, these games are consistently lower-scoring than the Vegas lines predict. The combined average score over the last five years is roughly 38 points.
- Home Field Doesn't Mean Much: Since 2022, the road team has actually had a slight edge in the series. Don't overvalue the Gillette Stadium or Acrisure Stadium crowd noise.
- Target the Tight Ends: If you're playing fantasy or looking at prop bets, the tight end is king in this matchup. Hunter Henry and Pat Freiermuth are consistently the top targets in the red zone for both squads.
The 21-14 final might look like just another Sunday result, but it signaled the end of the "Foxborough Curse" for Pittsburgh and the beginning of the Drake Maye era in New England—one that clearly has talent but desperately needs to fix its butterfingers.
The Steelers would go on to finish 10-7 and win the AFC North, while the Patriots struggled through a developmental year. But for one afternoon in September, the rivalry felt as intense as it did back in the Brady-Roethlisberger days. It was gritty, frustrating, and exactly what AFC football is supposed to be.
Keep an eye on the 2026 schedule; these two are slated to meet again at Acrisure Stadium, and you can bet the Patriots will be looking for some serious revenge for those five fumbles.