New England Patriots just got a big boost that could help them flip the script in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers
The New England Patriots are preparing for a huge matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend, and they just received some really good news that could threaten the Steelers’ chances of winning.
The New England Patriots are getting their most explosive offensive weapon back at the perfect time. Running back TreVeyon Henderson told Mike Reese of ESPN that he is ready to return for Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his presence could tip the scales in a matchup New England has every reason to feel confident about.
“I’m ready to go,” Henderson said.
Why Henderson’s return changes the equation for New England
The Patriots’ offense looked limited in the second half of their Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Romeo Doubs struggled in his debut with New England, and wide receiver A.J. Brown is on IR with an ankle injury. Without Henderson, the passing game lacked juice, and the run game lacked its home-run threat alongside Rhamondre Stevenson.
Adding Henderson back gives quarterback Drake Maye a safety valve and gives the offense a dimension it desperately needs. Henderson is, in my opinion, the most explosive offensive weapon the Patriots have. Getting him on the field against a Steelers defense that may be without its best cornerback makes this a potentially favorable matchup for New England.
Pittsburgh’s defense has its own problems
The Steelers are dealing with a concerning situation involving star cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who was limited on both Wednesday and Thursday in Pittsburgh and left Thursday’s practice early. His availability is not looking good for Week 2.
If Porter can’t go, that secondary becomes vulnerable to a Patriots passing attack that has had well over a week to prepare. The truth is, whoever watched last week’s Steelers game against the Atlanta Falcons knows the final score was not nearly indicative of how lopsided that game really was. The Steelers offense underwhelmed, and New England’s defense has had extra time to game-plan for a unit that showed very little.
Drake Maye needs to hold up his end
Henderson’s return doesn’t solve everything. Drake Maye has to play better. You can’t throw 3 interceptions, including a costly one to lose the game, and expect different results against Pittsburgh. The passing game needs contributions from Doubs, tight end Hunter Henry, Pop Douglas, Kyle Williams, or someone else willing to step up.
It can’t just be the TreVeyon Henderson show. But his return, combined with the extra preparation time and the Steelers’ struggles on both sides of the ball, makes this a game where the Patriots should feel good about their chances.
The bottom line is this: New England’s defense is ready for a Steelers offense that looked lifeless in Week 1, and now the Patriots’ offense has its most dynamic playmaker back in the fold. That combination could make for a long afternoon in Pittsburgh.
