Overview

• The 1-1 Steelers visit the 1-1 Patriots on Sunday in Foxborough in a matchup cast as a barometer for Pittsburgh’s defense.
• Through two games, Pittsburgh has yielded 789 yards and 63 points, ranking near the bottom of the league despite leading the NFL in defensive spending.
• Patriots quarterback Drake Maye enters off a 19-of-23, 230-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 33-27 win at Miami.
• Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez remains out with a hamstring injury, and the Steelers will be without cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and linebacker Alex Highsmith.
• Patriots Wire staff picks lean toward New England, while Steelers analysts call for defensive tweaks including more snaps for Yahya Black and Cole Holcomb and moving T.J. Watt to create pressure.