What Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said about facing Patriots
The Steelers are seeking their first win over the Patriots at Gillette Stadium since 2008.
The New England Patriots (1-1) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) on Sunday, in a game that could end up being key in the playoff race down the line.
For Mike Tomlin, he knows that slowing down Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will be key for a Steelers victory.
“He does a really good job of extending plays and making plays with his legs,” Tomlin said of Maye.
Pittsburgh has had success blitzing thus far, ranking sixth in the league in percent pressure rate. But with Maye’s mobility, it may have to switch things up. Maye’s athleticism helped him have a strong outing against the Dolphins last week, evading their pass rush on multiple occasions. He wound up throwing for 230 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a score.
As Tomlin recognized Maye’s talent, he also had quite a bit to say about the Patriots’ running back room.
“The running backs are a talented and deep group,” Tomlin stated. “[Rhamondre] Stevenson’s been around for a number of years now, has been consistently productive in that time. They drafted [TreVeyon] Henderson out of Ohio State, he’s a very good top-end speed guy.”
Stevenson has led the way so far with 18 carries over the first two games, rushing for 54 yards last week. He also had 88 receiving yards. But it has been a committee as predicted so far, with Henderson adding eight carries through two games.
We also can’t forget about running Antonio Gibson, whose explosive kick return helped the Patriots beat the Dolphins.
Flipping things around, Sunday will be an opportunity for new Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to get his first win in New England. He’s 0-2 when playing at Gillette Stadium in his career, losing in Foxborough as a member of the Jets last season.
Even though the Patriots’ pass defense ranks 26th through the first two games, Tomlin likes the talent New England has on its defense.
“They turned over some guys at the safety position, but they’re not lacking talent”, Tomlin stated. “They do a really good job of making you get prepared for package football, using a lot of people.”
Tomlin is also looking to end a skid he’s had against the Patriots, holding a 3-10 record against them all-time. However, he’s 0-3 against Mike Vrabel in head-to-head coaching matchups.
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