Steelers' Staple Training Camp Drill Plays Big Part In Pittsburgh's Week 3 Victory

The Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to grind out an ugly 21-14 road win over the New England Patriots on Sunday. In the Week 3 contest, the Steelers started out hot on both sides of the ball, showing early flashes of dominance. However, as the game wore on, the defense began to crack, giving up chunk plays and allowing Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to gain momentum. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, their defense delivered in the most critical moments, forcing four fumbles and recovering each one, along with snagging a key interception. 

The five total turnovers created the cushion the Steelers needed to secure the victory, even though the offense struggled to consistently turn those takeaways into points. The biggest defensive plays came in the red zone, where the Steelers twice ripped the ball away from the Patriots, flipping the script just as New England looked poised to score. 

Those takeaways did more than just save points; they completely shifted the momentum of the game. The Steelers offense, led by Aaron Rodgers, may not have been able to fully capitalize on every turnover. However, by taking the ball away from New England twice when they looked poised to score, Pittsburgh effectively stole fourteen points.

Former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams was quick to point out the significance of those defensive stands, crediting Pittsburgh’s training camp preparation. On social media, Williams highlighted how the 'Seven Shots' drill, a staple at Steelers practices under Mike Tomlin, directly impacted the outcome by teaching players to stand tall in the red zone when the pressure is highest. 

His comments resonated with Steelers fans, who know that defensive toughness and resilience have long been part of the team’s DNA. While questions remain about the offense’s inability to fully cash in on turnovers, this game reinforced a familiar truth: when the Steelers force mistakes, they usually find a way to win.

The Seven Shots drill definitely could have played a role in helping the Steelers' defense stand tall in the red zone. However, some Steelers fans would likely push back on that idea, pointing out that many of these turnovers were more about luck. The truth is that turnovers are usually a mixture of luck, talent, skill, and opportunity. The Steelers' defense has long been known for its ability to take the ball away, and that opportunistic mindset is a big reason why Tomlin has never had a losing season in the NFL.

Winning the turnover margin is always critical, but it is also a metric that relies partly on chance. At some point, that fortune tends to run out, and when it does, the inconsistency of the Steelers often shows. 

That is why the team has gone through so many ups and downs in recent years. The bigger concern from Sunday’s game was that the offense failed to produce more points despite the defense handing them five takeaways. Outside of those turnovers, the defense also gave up too many big plays and looked vulnerable at times.

Steelers Win In Ugly Fashion At New England

Even with those flaws, the Steelers found a way to secure the win, which is always the bottom line. Still, both the offense and defense know there is plenty of work to be done. The offense needs to finish drives and maximize opportunities, while the defense must find ways to get more consistent stops outside of turnovers. 

Pittsburgh will look to clean up those mistakes quickly as they prepare for their Week 4 trip to Dublin, Ireland, where they will face the Minnesota Vikings in an international showdown.

Do you agree with Williams’ take that the Seven Shots drill helped Pittsburgh take down the Patriots on Sunday? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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