PITTSBURGH — It wasn’t always as easy as the score suggested, but the New England Patriots moved to 6-1 on the season by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-16 at Heinz Field on Sunday.
Some expected a blowout with Landry Jones replacing Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, but with Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell in the Steelers’ offense, the Patriots made it clear all week it didn’t really matter who was under center: The Steelers still were going to present a challenge. And they did.
Bell picked up 130 yards from scrimmage on 27 touches, and Brown caught seven passes on 11 targets for 106 yards.
Here are the Patriots’ standouts in the Week 7 win.
RB LEGARRETTE BLOUNT
It was a revenge game of sorts for Blount, who played with the Steelers in 2014 and was released after he walked off the field during a game early, upset with his playing time. He then re-signed with the Patriots and won a Super Bowl. So really, there’s not much to avenge.
Blount carried the ball 21 times for 118 yards with two touchdowns. His eight touchdowns on the season are a career high. It took him just seven games.
TE ROB GRONKOWSKI
Gronkowski wasn’t used frequently, but when he was, he made a gigantic impact. He caught four passes on four targets for 93 yards with a touchdown.
When the Patriots need a big play, they know they can turn to Gronkowski.
Fellow tight end Martellus Bennett caught just one pass for 5 yards on the afternoon.
QB TOM BRADY
Brady was efficient as always, completing 19 of 25 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns. Of Brady’s six incompletions, two were drops.
RB JAMES WHITE
White showed nice vision on a 19-yard catch and run in the first quarter.
Julian Edelman would have been in this slot if not for a fumbled punt return. He caught 9 of 10 passes for 60 yards. He also had a drop from Brady.
SS PATRICK CHUNG
Chung saved a touchdown with a pass breakup in the end zone on a pass to running back Le’Veon Bell. He led the team with 10 tackles and allowed four of seven targets for 22 yards with two pass breakups.
CB MALCOLM BUTLER
Butler was up-and-down, but that was to be expected going against Antonio Brown for much of the game. He allowed five receptions on 12 targets for 94 yards with an interception and two more pass breakups. Most of those yards came on a 51-yard catch by Brown in the second quarter.
Thumbnail photo via Jason Bridge/USA TODAY Sports Images
