By admin 
The targets to pin the opening-night loss were easy to find – Drake Maye and Romeo Doubs.
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But there were other New England Patriots, who contributed to the demise. They badly need to rebound.
Practice and preparation for Week 2 begins on Wednesday.
So here are four Patriots that New England needs to bounce back when they hit the Gillette Stadium field on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1. Craig Woodson
The second-year safety was the key villain in the biggest play of the game, Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 45-yard fourth-quarter touchdown.
Late on the coverage, he took a simply brutal angle and got left in the dust as a five-yard, fourth-and-1 hookup turned into the long, game-tying TD.
Woodson was a symptom of the real problem. The Patriots have two strong safeties (Kevin Byard) and no free safety. He’s going to be asked to do things he shouldn’t be.
He performed well in the same role as a rookie, so expect better this week.
2. Robert Spillane
Spillane says he’s fully healthy. His lack of speed from the inside linebacker spot was clearly evident.
Is he showing his age (30) and the wear-and-tear of eight pro seasons?
Both he and running mate Christian Elliss struggle in open space and in coverage.
That will be tested big time this week with Pittsburgh’s perimeter run and short-passing game to the backs and tight ends.
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These two are the keys to the defense this week. Spillane, a captain, has to deliver.
3. DeMario Douglas
New England needs a man-beater at the receiver corps, and Pop Douglas has to be the guy with A.J. Brown down.
Douglas’ career has been a roller coaster. At times in the past two training camps, there has been talk of his demise.
Then, this summer he rose to the top with the media talking about him as a weapon.
Drake Maye needs a reliable “weapon” when opponents clamp down on the outside guys.
Seattle did it Wednesday. Steelers defensive coordinator Pat Graham will try Sunday.
Maye needs Douglas to answer the call.
4. Eli Raridon
The rookie tight end looked to be off to a flying start when he caught Maye’s two-yard TD pass in the second quarter.
But with more snaps, the Notre Dame product’s lack of prowess in the ground game was exposed.
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Patriots’ fans have to hope that was his “rookie” moment, and Raridon rallies.
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This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 7:50 AM.