It’s gameday, as Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin will resume their rivalry as the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots meet at Acrisure Stadium for the Steelers’ 2022 home opener on Sunday afternoon.
The two teams haven’t played since 2019, with the two years between games serving as the largest break for these teams since 2002. Since then, Belichick has led the Patriots to 12 wins in 16 appearances against the Steelers, including three playoff victories.
But only the coaches remain from those teams that did battle in the 2000s and 2010s. Tom Brady is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ben Roethlisberger is enjoying retirement. Of the Steelers reaching the stat sheet in that 2019 game, only Diontae Johnson, Devin Bush, Terrell Edmunds, Cam Heyward, Tyson Alualu, T.J. Watt and Cam Sutton remain. Watt will not play this week.
There’s been similar turnover in New England, with Mac Jones supplanting Brady. So this will be a new generation of the Steelers-Patriots rivalry on Sunday.
STEELERS GAMEDAY INFO
Week 2, Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) vs New England Patriots (0-1)
Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, 1 p.m.
Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh (68,400, grass)
Broadcast
TV: CBS regional coverage (Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn)
Radio: Steelers Radio Network, 102.5 WDVE-FM (Bill Hillgrove, Craig Wolfley, Missi Mathews, Max Starks)
SN Coverage: Alan Saunders, Nick Farabaugh, Hunter Homistek
Forecast: Mostly sunny, 79 degrees, wind WSW 10 mph
Line: Steelers +2,5, over/under 40.5 FanDuel Promo
| [bet-promo id=”20049″ ] |
AT STAKE
The Steelers could start an improbable 2-0 after beating the Cincinnati Bengals last week, with both wins coming against potential AFC playoff teams. That would go a long way toward helping secure a playoff berth for a team that figured to finish around .500. The Pats are in the same situation in the inverse. After losing to the Miami Dolphins, they face the prospect of going 0-2 against potential AFC tiebreaker opponents.
TRANSACTIONS
The Steelers placed T.J. Watt on the injured reserve list, signed outside linebacker David Anenih from the Tennessee Titans and promoted outside linebacker Delontae Scott from the practice squad to the active roster for gameday.
INJURY REPORT
C Mason Cole (ankle) RB Najee Harris (left foot), CB Levi Wallace (ankle) were all limited in practice this week but will play.
OLB T.J. Watt, S Damontae Kazee and WR Calvin Austin III all remain on the injured reserve list. Watt will miss his first game, Kazee and Austin will miss their second of the minimum of four games.
Patriots QB Mac Jones will play through back spasms and an illness.
Patriots safety Joshuah Bledsoe (groin) is out. T Trent Brown (ankle), LB Raekwon McMillan (thumb), S Adrian Phillips (ribs), RB Pierre Strong Jr. (shoulder) and CB Shaun Wade (ankle) are all questionable. None are projected starters.
RB Ty Montgomery was placed on the injured reserve list this week.
FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Things have not gone smoothly with former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia rejoining the New England Patriots as senior football advisor and offensive line coach.
Patricia coached for the Patriots from 2004-17, working on both sides of the football but rising to defensive coordinator in 2012. Patricia, Joe Judge and Belichick are working as a three-headed monster, leading an offense that struggled mightily in the opener.