The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to keep their momentum rolling following their Week 1 victory at home against the Atlanta Falcons. They head into enemy territory against a heated rival in the New England Patriots. It has largely been a house of horrors for Pittsburgh in the past. However, the franchise was able to go there last year and win. Now they look to win there for a second straight year. Despite wide receiver AJ Brown being out for the game, New England will get running back TreVeyon Henderson back from injury. However, there is something else the Black and Gold need to worry about.
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Steelers' Mike McCarthy speaks to the official during Pittsburgh's Week 1 over the Atlanta Falcons in 2026.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy was able to enjoy Week 1 as he coached for his hometown team given their victory. Now the team faces a big challenge as they go on the road to face the winners of the AFC from last season. One former member of the Black and Gold recently urged the team to be alert of some things to watch out for in Foxborough.
Former Pittsburgh defensive back Bryant McFadden joined 93.7 The Fan on Friday to discuss some headlines ahead of their Week 2 matchup. During his appearance, he brought up some scandals that the Patriots have been at the center of in the past. His comments give the Black and Gold some reason to exercise caution as they head on the road for the first time in the 2026 NFL season.
“Yeah it was always some funny business going on any time we visited Gillette Stadium,” McFadden said. “I mean clearly you were kind of in defense mode after the Spygate allegations came out. You know, earlier in my career, hearing what potentially was being done by the Patriots. There was a lot involved in the Spygate saga and some of the things we heard internally made you really question a lot of things that were associated with the Patriots.”
While it would certainly be smart to deploy some different ways of calling plays in New England, going into defense mode would not be the smartest way to try and execute Sunday. The win last year came because the team took it to them and did not play scared on the road. The one thing has been seen from McCarthy so far is he tends to toe the line on giving out too much information. That strategy from him can play well into the hands for the team for Sunday's contest.
The one uphill challenge the Steelers will face in Week 2 is playing without wideout Michael Pittman Jr. They are looking to improve on their offensive output from the 2025 season and the injury news does not help matters in that department. However, this may not open the door for rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard to see some more chances in the matchup on Sunday.
Steelers Could Disguise Game Plan Without Pittman In New England
It was noted this week that Bernard's usage will be increased depending on when quarterback Aaron Rodgers feels he is ready to take that on. Even if he will not see more usage in Week 2, the injury news to Pittman shifts the gameplan. Given McFadden's comments on how traveling to Foxborough put teams into defense mode, the injury could shift the looks that the New England defense is expecting in the contest.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers gets ready to throw in Week 1 of the NFL season against the Atlanta Falcons.
McFadden also noted during his appearance that this week is huge for the Patriots, as they want to avoid going 0-2 to start the year as they face the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills the next two weeks. For McCarthy and company, it is a chance to put them in an early season hole and get off to a strong start before they come back home to take on their divisional foe in the Cincinnati Bengals. A win would carry over some big momentum and make for a great start to the McCarthy era.
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