The Patriots were shutout Sunday. They scored a touchdown on their first drive Thursday.
It was the team’s first opening drive touchdown of the season.
Ezekiel Elliott, who played all eight snaps, scored on an 11-yard, catch-and-run. He had three rushes for 4 yards and two catches for 23 yards.
It was Bailey Zappe’s first touchdown pass of the season.
He set it up with a 37-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was tightly covered by Damontae Kazee. It was the Patriots’ first completion of 30 or more air yards this season.
The Patriots were 0-of-18 on throws of 30 or more air yards this season, per ESPNStatsInfo.
Zappe went 3-of-4 for 60 yards on the drive.
Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt was injured on the first play, while tackling Ezekiel Elliott, but returned.
The Steelers answered with a seven-play, 31-yard field goal drive, with Chris Boswell connecting from 56.
The Patriots lead 7-3 with 6:39 remaining in the first quarter.
