FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Steelers insider Gerry Dulac shares his real-time notes from each quarter of Steelers-Patriots from Gillette Stadium:
First quarter
• Haven’t been here since 2019, so you can imagine how different it all feels — no Tom Brady, no Gronk, no Belichick. But a beautiful, new, gigantic replay board.
• Cole Holcomb, getting more playing time to help the run defense, forces a fumble on the third play, which Darius Slay Jr. recovers. Good time to capitalize.
• Arthur Smith determined to run the ball early, and they did — seven consecutive running plays after a 15-yard completion to DK Metcalf produce an opening-drive touchdown.
• Jaylen Warren getting better each game — six consecutive carries for 32 yards on the drive. That’s a little more like it.
• Derrick Harmon gets