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The Patriots converted a third down on their first drive to open the game, then converted another on their 59-yard field goal. Outside of that, they were 2-13 on third down.
But their conversion counted. The Patriots were 2-2 in the red zone. The Steelers were 1-2, and their failed red zone trip led to a turnover early in the fourth quarter.
• The Steelers only had one penalty in this game for five yards, but that one was a big one.
Facing fourth-and-3 at their own 38 with 5:06 remaining, the Steelers lined up for a punt. But New England’s Jahlani Tavai met the goal line and the Steelers started to cheer, but the Patriots special players started to walk off the field.
After a discussion, Clay Martin’s crew decided Tavai had been pulled out by shortstop Christian Kuntz, who raised his head before attempting to catch the football.
Former NFL official Terry McAulay, who worked as an analyst for Amazon Prime, which aired the game, did not think Kuntz did anything wrong.
“It looks like a normal movement you’d see from a long shot,” McAulay said.
“I didn’t think I moved my head until it popped,” Kuntz said.
Instead of getting a first down, the Steelers were pushed back and forced to punt.
Tomlin and special teams coordinator Danny Smith both had words with Martin after the call, trying to get an explanation for the penalty.
“I was given an explanation,” Tomlin said. “I don’t know if I agree with it, but I was given an explanation.”
• The Steelers got the ball back on a 3-pointer with 2:44 left in the game.
After an 8-yard pass to Johnson on second down put the Steelers on third-and-2 at their own 49, Trubisky botched back-to-back passes to George Pickens and then and a deep ball to Johnson on fourth down was good. end their chances.
“Advertising-wise, he turned to go ball,” Johnson said. “We didn’t convert.”
Early in the game, Trubisky saw that the Patriots were showing a lack of touch and changed Johnson’s play in a way against JC Jackson that turned in a 25-yard touchdown in the first half.