Steelers Gain Massive Coaching Advantage Against Patriots In Week 3

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, and they may have just gained a big advantage over the New England Patriots, putting them in prime position to win. New England shares a 1-1 record with Pittsburgh, and the teams are similar in many ways, struggling to run the ball, and a having secondaries that are trying to figure out how to communicate two weeks into the season, giving up huge chunk plays. Now, New England has lost an integral part of its coaching staff just a couple of days before the game kicks off.

Patriots Defensive Coordinator Terrell Williams, a new addition to the team's staff alongside Head Coach Mike Vrabel, is set to miss his second consecutive game due to an undisclosed medical issue. While he has returned to the facility, Williams isn't yet ready to return to game action, Vrabel confirmed in the team's pre-game press conference.

"I'd say [Williams is] feeling better. I think that we'll probably be operating under the same premise. I mean, Terrell's around, I just want to try to get some continuity, and with the situation probably being fluid, we'll stick to the same plan that we had last week. He'll just be more involved. I just want to make sure that we're not in and out and in and out. That's all."

With Williams being out another week, inside linebackers coach Zach Kuhr will take over the role. There is a question of how significant Williams' role is within the organization, since Vrabel is a defensive head coach who likely handles at least some of the defensive play-calling and game-planning. 

The Patriots were able to pull off a win in their Week 2 game without Williams, although they did allow 27 points to the Miami Dolphins. Still, there's no question that a team like New England with young defenders and new pieces suffers from the absence of a defensive coordinator, especially early in the season while they try to become more cohesive.

Steelers Defense Has To Improve After Early Struggles

The Patriots aren't the only team in this matchup that has had struggles on defense. The Steelers are allowing 31.5 points per game, good for 29th in the National Football League. It's certainly a disappointing start for a team that was expected to be a top defense in the league, adding many new pieces including superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who the team traded for from Miami.   

That's not to say that the story of the 2025 Steelers defense is written yet. It's important to remember that the first few weeks of an NFL season rarely are an indicator of what a team can do - for instance, the 2024 New Orleans Saints, who started their season 2-0 while averaging 45.5 points per game, ended the season 5-12. Especially for Pittsburgh, a team that has replaced around half of their defensive starters, there's reason for optimism- the team will need time to jell, and if they can do so, will likely be a top unit once again. 

However, time is short. Pittsburgh's schedule isn't getting any easier, and so they need to win now, and the league's highest paid defense has to show major improvement quickly. The biggest concern comes from the team's sack numbers - they have three through two weeks - and superstar edge rusher TJ Watt, who the team made the second highest paid non-quarterback in the league in the 2025 offseason, has zero. Without pressure on the quarterback, teams are carving up the secondary.

Sunday's competition against New England could very well be a shootout, similar to the team's Week 1 win against the New York Jets. If that's the case, it will come down to who can make the least mistakes, and a team without their defensive coordinator might be prone to having more issues. Pittsburgh certainly hopes that's true. 

What do you think about the Steeler's offense and their chances against New England on Sunday? Let us know in the comments below!

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