New England Patriots Hold off Pittsburgh Steelers for 21-18 Win

By Stephen Ur

The New England Patriots were in Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers on Thursday night. They were coming off a 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

New England would find the end zone on their first drive when Bailey Zappe found Ezekiel Elliot on a short pass that Elliot then took into the end zone from 11 yards out. Pittsburgh would add a field goal, and the Patriots led 7-3 after one.

Jabril Peppers intercepted a Mitchell Trubisky pass on the first play of the second quarter, and two plays later, Zappe would throw his second touchdown to tight end Hunter Henry to extend the lead to 14-3.

Two drives later, Zappe and Henry hooked up for a second touchdown and the Patriots led 21-3 with 7:38 left in the half. Thr Steelers would score their first touchdown as Trubisky found Dionate Johnson from 25 yards out to close the gap to 21-10. That would prove to be the halftime score.

Neither team would score in the third, but Bailey Zappe was intercepted by Walker in the final minute of the quarter, and the Steelers got inside the Patriots 10 yard line as the quarter expired.

After missing on a 4th and 2, the Steelers special teams blocked a Patriots punt and started at the New England 26 yard line. A one-yard touchdown run from Trubisky an a two-point conversion made it a 21-18 game.

New England would hold on to win by that final score of 21-18. The Patriots will host the Kansas City Chiefs next weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.