After an opening weekend victory against the Atlanta Falcons, the Pittsburgh Steelers' second game of the 2026 regular season was a more humbling reality check. The Steelers were outclassed by the New England Patriots in a 20-3 defeat, leaving many fans concerned for what the rest of the year might look like.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers takes a hit during a road loss to the Patriots in 2026.
Mike McCarthy’s side hosts Cincinnati in Week 3, an undefeated AFC North divisional rival. After their resounding start to the season, the Bengals are considered the favorites in that matchup across the best prediction market apps recommended by Action Network, which fans can use to check each team’s implied probability of victory.
For Pittsburgh to bounce back and record an upset, a few analysts and supporters have speculated whether anything needs to change in the coming days. Multiple weak points were highlighted following the loss to New England, but does it make sense to bench players this early in the season?
Quarterback
It was far from a good day for Aaron Rodgers in Foxborough on Sunday, as he fumbled the ball twice, was sacked four times, and completed 23 passes for 187 yards. He looked his age at points of the game, as the 42-year-old struggled to get the ball out before the pocket collapsed.
But with several players making drops and with the offensive line failing to provide adequate protection for much of the game, pinning all the blame on Rodgers is a slight overreaction. Some might be tempted to give a young prospect a chance - for example, Drew Allar, someone that former Steeler Jerome Bettis has compared to Ben Roethlisberger, might benefit from some snaps when available as he looks to realize his potential, but playing a prospect in these conditions is hardly a sensible choice.
Wide Receiver
Rodgers’ production might also have been more impressive had his wide receiver room been more productive, specifically DK Metcalf. After a disappointing Week 1, where he managed just 40 yards from 10 targets, the second-year Steeler once again led the team in targets against the Patriots, but only caught four of nine for 27 yards, making two high-profile drops.
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Pittsburgh Steelers’ DK Metcalf is tackled by Kevin Byard III at Gillette Stadium in 2026.
With Metcalf seemingly low on confidence, it was Germie Bernard who impressed most, with his four catches resulting in 35 yards. Benching Metcalf won’t happen, but giving Bernard a more significant role alongside Michael Pittman Jr. once the latter is healthy could allow the team’s WR1 to rebuild confidence.
Offensive Line
Where McCarthy might be considering early changes, though, is in the trenches. The offensive line really struggled to protect Rodgers from the New England pass rush, with Spencer Anderson, Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, and Dylan Cook all struggling. And, despite the fact that Rodgers has said there’s no need to panic just yet, alarm bells will be ringing if this is a sign of things to come.
There is an argument to be made that things will improve over the course of the season, as reps build familiarity and communication between players, and shuffling players might actually make things worse. But with the likes of Max Iheanachor and Brock Hoffman waiting in the wings, McCarthy might want to see if either can offer any improvement.