Bailey Zappe and the Patriots picked up their third win of the season on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Bailey Zappe got the job done.
Zappe led the New England Patriots to a much-needed 21-18 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium. Zappe threw three touchdownsin the first half en route to the win, which marked just the Patriots’ third on the season. While Zappe and the Patriots’ offense looked solid, the Steelers — led by backup Mitch Trubisky after Kenny Pickett’s ankle injury — did not.
Trubisky and the Steelers struggled badly in the first half. The Patriots jumped up to a 21-3 lead thanks to a huge interception early in the second quarter and a pair of touchdowns to tight end Hunter Henry — which made him just the fifth player in the last 30 years to record at least two touchdowns while playing on his birthday.
The Steelers finally scored right before halftime after Trubisky hit Diontae Johnson for a 25-yard score.
Pittsburgh had plenty of chances in the second half, too, but failed to convert deep in the red zone in the fourth quarter after intercepting Zappe. Miles Killebrew blocked a Patriots punt in the fourth quarter, which set the Steelers up with great field position once again. That led to a Trubisky 1-yard touchdown run, which cut the game to just three points.
That, however, is as close as they got. Even with the Patriots’ offense stalling, Trubisky and the Steelers failed twice on fourth down. The Patriots edged out the three-point win.
Trubisky went 21-of-34 for 169 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the loss for pittsburgh. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 30 yards and a score on eight carries. Johnson had 57 yards on three receptions.
Zappe went 19-of-28 for 240 yards with three touchdowns and an interception for the Patriots. Ezekiel Elliott had 68 yards on 22 carries, and JuJu Smith-Schuster had 90 yards on four carries.
The Steelers, though hanging on in the AFC playoff race, have now lost three of their last four — and two games in the last five days to teams with a combined 6-20 record. With Pickett out for at least a few more weeks, time may be running out to make a postseason push based on how their offense looked on Thursday night.
Follow along as Yahoo Sports provides the latest news, scores and highlights from the late NFL slate in Week 14.
Live37 updates
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 5:35 AM GMT+1Fri, December 8, 2023 at 5:21 AM GMT+1
That’s … not great
Steelers first team in NFL history to be over .500 and lose back to back games to teams 8 (!) games under .500
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) December 8, 2023
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 5:19 AM GMT+1
Mike Tomlin gets plenty of praise. Rightfully so. He has had a great career.
But when, in a five-day stretch, you lose to two teams that are 4-20 against the rest of the NFL, you deserve all the criticism. https://t.co/20oHV5xu9f
— Frank Schwab (@YahooSchwab) December 8, 2023
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 5:19 AM GMT+1
The Steelers have now lost three of their last four games.
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 4:57 AM GMT+1
I don’t get it. That would have kept the Steelers’ drive alive…
That’s a bad false start call on the Steelers. Really bad.
— Frank Schwab (@YahooSchwab) December 8, 2023
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 4:50 AM GMT+1
The Steelers aren’t done yet…
A look at the changes in the @Steelers‘ win probability over a six minute span to start the fourth quarter ????
???? After Turnover on Downs: 12.8%
???? After Blocked Punt: 22.3%
???? After TD & 2-Pt Conversion: 33.0%
???? After Patriots 3 & Out: 41.1%Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/MJb4lTpnJg
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 8, 2023
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 4:40 AM GMT+1
OK, we’ve got a game. Trubisky runs in a 1-yard score and the Steelers convert the 2-point conversion. Patriots lead 21-18.
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 4:35 AM GMT+1
The Steelers get great field position once again. Let’s see if they can capitalize this time
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 4:32 AM GMT+1
Well, nevermind. Trubisky slid short of the first down line on a scramble and then the Patriots get the stop.
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 4:25 AM GMT+1
The Steelers suddenly have a chance to get right back in it.
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 4:18 AM GMT+1
Cam Heyward with his first sack of the night
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 4:04 AM GMT+1
The Steelers are moving early in the second half
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 3:48 AM GMT+1
1st half stats:
NEW ENGLAND
B. Zappe: 14-21, 196 yards, 3 TDs
E. Elliott: 10 rushes, 22 yards; 4 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD
H. Henry: 3 receptions, 39 yards, 2 TDs
3-7 on 3rd down
219 total yards
14:08 time of possession
PITTSBURGH
M. Trubisky: 6-11, 61 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 1 sack; 5 rushes, 20 yards
D. Johnson: 1 reception, 25 yards, 1 TD
J. Warren: 2 receptions, 20 yards
1-6 on 3rd down
112 total yards
15:52 time of possession
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 3:44 AM GMT+1
The first half comes to an end and the Patriots remain ahead of the Steelers, 21-10.
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 3:36 AM GMT+1Fri, December 8, 2023 at 3:35 AM GMT+1
#Steelers LB Alex Highsmith is officially out for the game with a neck injury.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 8, 2023
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 3:31 AM GMT+1
From @ESPNStatsInfo: Hunter Henry is the 5th player over last 30 seasons w/ 2 receiving TDs on his birthday. DeVonta Smith (’21 vs. Broncos), Jimmy Graham (’14 vs. Ravens), Terrell Owens (’03 vs. Cards), Isaac Bruce (’02 vs. Chargers).
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 8, 2023
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 3:29 AM GMT+1Fri, December 8, 2023 at 3:28 AM GMT+1
The Steelers get their first touchdown of the night as Trubisky hits Diontae Johnson for 25 yards.
21-10 Patriots with 2:50 left in the 2nd quarter.
Fri, December 8, 2023 at 3:24 AM GMT+1
From @ESPNStatsInfo: Bailey Zappe is the first Patriot with 3 passing TDs in a 1st half since Tom Brady in 2018.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 8, 2023
2023-12-08 04:35:00
#Bailey #Zappe #Patriots #hang #late #beat #Steelers
