Time for Patriots to get a Little Bit Ugly on Offense; Front Five in Spotlight vs. Steelers

With A.J. Brown shelved for at least four games, the New England Patriots’ offense may not be an aesthetic masterpiece in that stretch.

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Coach Mike Vrabel is about wins and losses, not points for artistic ability. So, if things get a little bit ugly and the Patriots score points and win games without Brown, he’s all good.

That quest begins on Sunday at Gillette Stadium with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and for New England, it will be anchored on the offensive line.

Running game sputtered in opener

If the Patriots can only squeeze out 2.6 yards a carry from their running backs as they did in Seattle, they are going to be vulnerable. It starts with the five guys up front on offense.

“Anything we did in Week 1 was not good enough, starting with me. Again, that is how it is,” said Vrabel. “Our focus is on the Steelers, and we have made the corrections that I feel like we need to make, and hopefully we can continue to improve. We’ve said this for as long as I can remember: The teams that continue to improve are going to be the ones that have a chance at the end.”

False sense of security

Because Drake Maye didn’t spend the night on his back, as he did in Super Bowl LX, the front five – Will Campbell, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses – received little critique and even earned praise against Seattle.

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But the emphasis on running (24 carries by the backs) and short passing allowed them to skate a bit.

Campbell says they understand things have to improve.

“It’s only Week 2, long season to go, a lot of growth to be made, and we’ve been in this position before,” said the second-year left tackle.

Pittsburgh to apply heat

Still, this will be a stern test with the Steelers defensive front.

“All of them, they’re all really talented. They all get paid a lot of money for a reason,” said Campbell. “It’s a deep group on the entire front, so it’s a big week for us up front.”

All eyes will be on Campbell, as well as Vera-Tucker, who is playing his first football since 2024, and Wilson, who slid over one spot from left guard to center to start this year.

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This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 8:00 AM.