The New England Patriots didn't allow an ounce of breathing room for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense on Sunday.
They dominated in Week 2 by forcing two turnovers and holding the Aaron Rodgers-led offense to only three points. Perhaps the only concern from the game comes from the Patriots' offense, which was held to only 13 points after the unit only mustered 10 points in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
The unit has struggled without A.J. Brown on the field, and no other receiver has managed to step up in the same ways that Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte did for the team. Granted, veteran wideout Romeo Doubs made some big plays against the Steelers, and that does create some hope that better days are ahead for the offense.
Here
are the studs and duds from the Patriots' Week 2 win:
STUD: RB TreVeyon Henderson
The Patriots needed a spark offensively, and running back TreVeyon Henderson answered the call by exploding for a 39-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. With A.J. Brown out for multiple games, the Patriots are going to need their biggest playmakers to step up and help take some of the pressure off Maye. Henderson reminded the world why he's a legitimate home run threat every time the ball is in his hands.
DUD: QB Drake Maye
After throwing three interceptions in the opener, Maye added a fourth in two games on an underthrown pass that was picked off by Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. The turnovers are starting to become a concern for the 24-year-old quarterback. He also had far too many plays where he held onto the ball for too long. Not having Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte on offense, while also losing A.J. Brown in Week 1, has created a major adjustment period for Maye.
STUD: Gabe Jacas
Gabe Jacas getting his first NFL interception probably wasn't on the BINGO card for Sunday, but that's exactly what happened against the Steelers. Charles Woods set up the play with a hard hit on a Steelers receiver, popping the ball into the awaiting hands of Jacas, who showcased great concentration to make the play.
Jacas also defended a pass and delivered a quarterback hit on Aaron Rodgers. The rookie defender has been a disruptive force on the field right out of the gate.
STUD: Charles Woods
Charles Woods stepped up and had a solid game for the Patriots, with Carlton Davis sidelined with a neck injury. He forced a late interception that ultimately helped seal the game for the team. This was the kind of performance that shows that the Patriots might have better depth at cornerback than some initially believed.
STUD: DT Christian Barmore
Christian Barmore is the forgotten game-wrecker along the defensive front, but he showed up in a big way in the second half by strip-sacking Rodgers and forcing a critical turnover for the Patriots. The former University of Alabama standout has created a powerful pairing with Milton Williams. He was a major reason why the team dominated in the trenches on Sunday.
STUD: EDGE Elijah Ponder
Barmore forced the fumble on Rodgers, and Elijah Ponder cashed it in for six points on a scoop-and-score touchdown. Ponder was viewed as a potential breakout defensive player this season. His opportunities have increased with injuries to Harold Landry III and Dre'Mont Jones.
DUD: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Every Patriots fan watching on Sunday must have had their stomach in knots when Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled on the first drive of the game. Maye and company started off moving the ball well downfield, and Stevenson coughed it up, killing a potential scoring drive dead in its tracks. Keep in mind that Stevenson lost two fumbles when the Patriots faced the Steelers last season.
STUD: CB Christian Gonzalez
Christian Gonzalez had Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf under lock and key throughout Sunday's game. The star cornerback has been dominant since the start of the season, and he isn't showing any signs of slowing down. It's clear at this point that the Patriots made the right decision in extending the burgeoning superstar defender.
STUD: WR Romeo Doubs
After going without a single catch in the opener, Patriots veteran Romeo Doubs led all receivers with three catches for 96 yards. It was a solid bounce-back performance for Doubs, who had a crucial drop in the Week 1 loss to the Seahawks. The hope now is that Doubs can use Sunday's performance to build on his growing chemistry with Maye.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Studs and duds from Patriots' 20-3 win over Steelers
