TNF: Pats On the Back(ups)

12/08/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Patriots Shock Steelers on Thursday Night Football (21-18) In Battle of Backup QBs

An injured Kenny Pickett (Steelers) and a benched Mac Jones (Patriots) meant fans were treated to the Baily Zappe vs. Mitch Trubisky game on Thursday Night Football. Seems accurate in going with this year’s theme of horrendous TNF matchups. But there was little to scoff at when it came to Zappe’s first half. The Patriots had been abysmal on offense this season — averaging a league-worst 12.3 ppg — but Zappe was delightful. The 24-year-old threw as many touchdowns in the first half (3) as the Patriots did in their first seven road games combined (3). RB Ezekiel Elliot was also a pleasant surprise for New England. He racked up 140 yards and touched the ball nearly 30 times. Unfortunately, that was where the scoring stopped for the Pats.

New England held a 21-3 lead as the boos reigned down on Trubisky through most of a cold night in Pittsburgh. The Steelers eventually engineered a comeback attempt in the 4th quarter to get within three, but suspect playcalling down the stretch led them astray. A 4th-and-2 with the game on the line became a hail-mary heave down the sideline that fell incomplete. The Steelers have now lost back-to-back games against two-win teams (Cardinals & Patriots). Their playoff chances are fading fast.

Fun Fact: The Steelers are the only team with a winning record (7-6) and a negative point-differential (-40) this season. Pittsburgh actually ranks 23rd (out of 32) in PD.

QB Comparison

B. Zappe (NE): 19/28, 253 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

M. Trubisky (PIT): 22/35, 220 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Other Top Performers

RB E. Elliot (NE): 29 touches, 140 yards, 1 TD

WR J. Smith-Schuster (NE): 4 catches, 90 yards

LB J. Tavai (NE): 15 total tackles

Records: Steelers (7-6) / Patriots (3-10)

Watch: Pats Upset Steelers on TNF (21-18) Behind Zappe & Elliot

USA Today: Patriots Damage Steelers’ Playoff Hopes With TNF Upset

Photo: Joe Sargent / Getty Images