5 Observations from PGH AT NE

Five Observations from the Steelers at Patriots Week 1 Game

1. The fantasy super stars looked like fantasy super stars.

Rob Gronkowski grabbed three touchdowns and Antonio Brown did AB things for 9/133/1. Brown made some amazing catches on the Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler, who did look good in his first start, but Brown was no match. Gronk is a clear mismatch and will be the fire that keeps the Patriots burning down the rest of the league.

2. Do the Patriots have a new stud in Dion Lewis?

They certainly have a replacement for their “Shane Vereen role.” Vereen had about 400 yards receiving and rushing in 2014, and I could see that for Lewis in 2015. The major takeaway is that now Legarette Blount comes back and they have their two backs to fill the old roles of Vereen and Steven Ridley.

3. Tom Brady did Tom Brady things

Dion Lewis helped with 4/51, and Julian Edleman led the way with his 11/97 as Brady did what he does and dinked and dunked his way down the field. Brady was 20-24 for 172 yards and 4 TDs when throwing for 10 yards or less last year. He took what the Steelers gave them and gave them a loss.

4. The Dom Easley injury

The Steelers were able to run the ball with ease and Deangelo Williams was running at 6.0 yards per carry average. Dom Easley their former first round pick had a lot weight on his shoulders this year. Losing him to a hip pointer injury may sideline him for a few weeks, and leaves them with no depth, and a rookie at DT. Easley didn’t have any experience in the NFL prior to last night and now the Patriots run defense may be a problem to watch.

5. Jarvis Jones had an impact

Brady and his trust in Edleman were picking the Steelers secondary apart, but the front seven of the Steelers did play well. Aside from Jones, Ryan Shazier also played well for a second year player off an injury. Jones was feeling it after two bad years, but really made Brady move in the pocket and even created a penalty. If he can take that step forward it is a major help in Pittsburgh.