Week 2 of the NFL season is almost here, and for the New England Patriots, it's a much-needed game to bounce back from a rough Week 1 loss. New England kicked off the season by losing a very winnable game to the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
A key reason for the defeat was the Patriots' three turnovers.
Against Seattle, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was picked off three times and was a key reason as to why they lost the game. The more turnovers you have, the more likely you'll come away from the game as the loser. Heading into Week 2, the Patriots need to limit the number of turnovers they have.
Limiting turnovers is key for a Patriots Week 2 win
For the most part, the Patriots were in control during the Week 1 game, holding a 10-0 lead during the second half. Once the interceptions happened, the game flipped in favor of Seattle. Trying to win with that many interceptions is a recipe for disaster.
While not on the level of the Seahawks defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is still a formidable foe. Pittsburgh's defensive line is top-notch, with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Cameron Hayward leading the way. The Steelers' secondary isn't as strong, but it can certainly hold its own.
Patriots fans should remember clearly what the Steelers defense can do, as last season, they forced them into five turnovers. New England lost that game 21-14 because they struggled to hold onto the ball. Unlike in Week 1 of this year, last season's turnovers weren't just on one player (Maye was picked off and fumbled, Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled twice, and Antonio Gibson fumbled once).
Last season's game against Pittsburgh was very similar to the Week 1 loss against Seattle. You had a game where, for the majority of the game, you were playing better, but you lost control of the game as you turned the ball over. New England can't have these preventable turnovers happen again, like in Week 1, or else they'll be looking at a 0-2 start to the season.
Drake Maye can't drop the ball for the Patriots in Week 2
To avoid this, Maye will need to be better than he was in Week 1 at protecting the ball. Heading into the season, Patriots fans were excited about the receiver room, mostly in part because of A. J. Brown. Unfortunately, Brown was injured in Week 1 and was placed on the injured reserve, meaning he'll be out a minimum of four games.
If Maye has a repeat performance in Week 2, then the odds of the Patriots winning will be low. Another player to watch is Stevenson, whose turnovers hurt you last year against the Steelers. His two fumbles were critical last year, and he has to prioritize ball security, since the Steelers are going to know about Stevenson's fumbling issues.
After not playing in the preseason, New England came out a little rusty in Week 1 (especially offensively). Now in Week 2, the Patriots have to be ready to go from the moment the first whistle blows, or else the season could hit a crossroads.
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