The Steelers piled up 143-yards running the football, with the Patriots struggling to stop a Steelers’ team that converted 10-of-16 (63%) on third down and had difficulty at times getting them off the field.\u00a0 With Pittsburgh having success sustaining drives, it allowed them to control the clock and keep Tom Brady and the offense on the sideline as the Steelers held the ball for 19:53 in the first half, compared to just 10:07 for the Patriots.<\/p>\n
The veteran linebacker was downgraded to out prior to Sunday’s game, with Van Noy having last played back on December 3rd during New England’s win over the Bills in Buffalo.\u00a0 Coming into Sunday’s game he was second on the team in tackles with 73, as well as second in sacks with 5.5.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, on Sunday the Patriots survived without him but it’s clear that heading into the final two games and into the postseason, they’re certainly going to be much better off if he’s able to come back healthy.<\/p>\n
2) Patriots are lucky the 69-yard play they gave up at the end of the game didn’t cost them\u00a0<\/strong>– Staying on the subject of the defense, there were definitely some rough moments, including one key miscue at the end of the game that nearly cost them. <\/p>\n The play came following New England’s go-ahead touchdown in the final moments, which looking back at how it unfolded, it’s safe to say that it will most definitely be a point of emphasis in the film room this week. <\/p>\n Clinging to a 3-point lead, the Steelers had 0:52 left to work with, which was still a fair amount of time to get from their own 21-yard line into field goal range to potentially force overtime. But it felt like, at the time, the Patriots finally had the momentum and were back in control of the game at that point.\u00a0 The only thing they needed was for their defense to put together one final stop and close the game out.<\/p>\n Instead, their beleaguered\u00a0group gave it all back and then some in just one play.\u00a0 On the snap, Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster came across the middle and beat Eric Rowe, with Ben Roethlisberger hitting him in stride as he came across.\u00a0 From there, Smith-Schuster made a mad dash toward the sideline and safety Devin McCourty came flying in toward him to try and help Rowe out and seemingly had the angle he needed to push him out of bounds.\u00a0 The only problem was, Jordan Richards was locked up with Le’Veon Bell near the sideline.\u00a0 Richards dove at Smith-Schuster as he ran past, and unfortunately, he took McCourty out of the play, leaving Rowe having to continue chasing after him.<\/p>\n By the time Duron Harmon wrapped him up, Smith-Schuster was at New England’s 10-yard line and the Steelers seemingly had just the play they needed to at least force overtime.<\/p>\n You could see the frustration on the face of Tom Brady after the play, who isn’t exactly a stranger to being on the wrong end of those situations given some of the losses he’s been through.\u00a0 However, fortunately, Harmon came up with the play they needed to put the game away, and New England finds themselves right where they want to be heading into the final weeks of the 2017 regular season.<\/p>\n 3) Gronkowski reminded everyone what a difference-maker he is<\/strong> – Having Rob Gronkowski back in action on Sunday was obviously huge, and watching him take over the game in the fourth quarter was certainly impressive.<\/p>\n Gronkowski hauled in 9 catches for 168 yards during the victory, including 3 receptions for 69 yards on the team’s game-winning drive, which he polished off with a 2-point conversion following Dion Lewis’ 8-yard touchdown.<\/p>\n He was in the zone all afternoon, making some terrific catches and his performance over the final two minutes was just ridiculous.\u00a0 On his first reception, he picked up 26-yards after beating safety Sean Davis on a post coming across from the left side of the field just before the two-minute warning.<\/p>\n They went right back to a similar route on the next play, picking up another 26-yards after Gronkowski got behind Davis again, with Brady hitting the veteran tight end in stride between two defenders.\u00a0 Gronkowski took a big shot from safety Mike Mitchell, who hit him low and wrapped him up for the tackle. But it didn’t affect him as Gronkowski was fired up at that point, flexing and clearly on a mission after back-to-back 26-yard receptions.<\/p>\n But as if that wasn’t enough, the catch he made on the ensuing play was just incredible.\u00a0 After lining up again in the left slot, Gronkowski ran a route across the middle and Brady, who was under pressure by Pittsburgh’s defense on that play, managed to slide away and while moving to his left fired the football to Gronkowski, but the throw was slightly off target and low, reaching him mere inches from the ground.\u00a0 However, Gronkowski managed to reach down and snatch the football just above the turf, pulling it into his body before somersaulting and rising to his feet.<\/p>\n At that point, you could see in his eyes that there was no stopping him.\u00a0 Lewis would score on the next play, and Gronkowski slipped past the defender and made a twisting leaping grab for the two-point conversion.\u00a0 It capped an incredible afternoon after spending the previous week as a spectator thanks to his suspension.\u00a0 He admitted after the game, he was happy to be back.<\/p>\n “I missed the boys,” said Gronkowski of his teammates.\u00a0 “They are always grinding every single week. These guys are my teammates and they are great to be around. I definitely miss them and it’s great to be back.”<\/p>\n And after what we saw on Sunday, they were clearly lucky to have him.<\/p>\n 4) Expect a rule change again this offseason thanks to the James play<\/strong> – As we know, the NFL isn’t a fan of their own rules when it works in favor of the Patriots, and the controversial play at the end of regulation involving Steelers’ tight end Jesse James’ apparent touchdown will likely spark a discussion with the competition committee during this next offseason.<\/p>\n After what initially looked like a 10-yard touchdown reception that would have sealed the game, the officials reviewed the play and ultimately overturned it after ruling that James didn’t control the ball all the way to the ground.\u00a0 Looking back at the film, James caught the football above his head\u00a0and then twisted his body back toward the end zone, while reaching the ball across the goal line.\u00a0 The only problem was, as his body and the ball hit the ground, James lost his grip on the football.<\/p>\n According to referee Tony Corrente, they ruled that James “just didn’t survive to the ground.”<\/p>\n “In order\u00a0to have a completed pass, a receiver must survive going to the ground,” Corrente told the field reporter after the game.\u00a0 “In this case, [James] had control of the football but he was going to the ground.\u00a0 As he hit the ball, the ball began to roll and rotate and the ball hit the ground and that’s the end of it at that point.”<\/p>\n The overturned TD #Steelers<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/kuIKDWCn2e<\/a><\/p>\n — Steelers Depot 7? (@Steelersdepot) December 18, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/p>\n
\n \n ![](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/images\/us-presswire\/600w\/2017-Week-15-Rob-Gronkowski-DMWXc-600w.jpg\")
There was no stopping Gronkowski on Sunday.<\/strong><\/font>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n