Believe it or not, there were signs in that sad, rain-soaked, shutout loss to the Chargers.

Signs of a stirring deep passing game. Of improved pass protection. Of an offense that might one day meander back to the end zone after making one such trip in its last three games.

Then the Patriots made that trek three times Thursday night, all in the first half. Bailey Zappe posted a sparkling 115.2 passer rating and matched Mac Jones for the season when he hit his fourth deep pass on the year. Zappe also became the first Patriots quarterback to throw three touchdown passes in a first half since Tom Brady in 2018.

How much of that is sustainable moving forward, especially in light of a scoreless second half? Likely not much.

Zappe’s leading receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster, earned more than 40% of his season-high 90 yards on a low-percentage contested catch. Ezekiel Elliott caught seven passes for the first time in two years. Zappe also peaked with his offensive line, which allowed a season-best 16.7% pressure rate.

But there are elements worth monitoring here. Over two and a half games, Zappe is protecting the ball better than Jones did. He’s threatening defenses downfield in a way the Patriots haven’t most of this year. And up front, offensive linemen Trent Brown, Cole Strange and David Andrews are giving him time, having allowed just a single combined pressure the past two weeks.

To be clear, Zappe is no more the passer he was in the first half at Pittsburgh than he was in the second (44 passing yards, zero touchdowns, one interception). But Zappe is proving himself worthy of a longer leash, which was hard to imagine after his flops in mop-up duty versus the Cowboys, Saints, Colts and Giants; almost as hard as picturing the Patriots in the end zone.

Yet there they were, three times Thursday, thanks partly to their new starting quarterback.

Here’s what else the film revealed about Thursday’s win:

Bailey Zappe

19-of-28 for 240 yards, 3 TDs, INT

New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe throws a pass Thursday night during a 21-18 win over the host Steelers. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

Accurate throw percentage: 80.8%

Under pressure: 1-of-3 for 17 yards, 2 sacks

Against the blitz: 4-of-7 for 73 yards

Behind the line: 5-of-5 for 49 yards

0-9 yards downfield: 10-of-15 for 105 yards, TD, INT

10-19 yards downfield: 2-of-2 for 25 yards, TD

20+ yards downfield: 2-of-4 for 61 yards, TD

Notes: Considering the stone-wall protection his offensive line provided, Zappe should have at least managed an average passing performance. And that he did.

But more than his touchdowns to Hunter Henry and 37-yard completion to Smith-Schuster, pocket presence defined his game. Zappe maneuvered every type of pocket well; stepping up when he needed to step up, sliding when he had to slide and taking off when scrambling offered the best option. All of that dodging, ducking, dipping and diving allowed him to find safe platforms from which to throw or extend the play.

Quarterback play under pressure is not often consistent week to week, but in the face of a closing pass rush, Zappe has kept the Patriots afloat enough after Jones too often sank them in the same situation. Zappe also chucked two throwaways, a small number that matches Jones’ output from his last three starts combined. For a defensive team, the quarterback opting for a throwaway instead of a sack or turnover can change a game.

Now Zappe did throw a tip-drill interception and risked another pick in the second half, after which offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien seemed to take the game out of his hands with run-heavy play-calling. But overall, Zappe managed well without leaning heavily on play-action or screen concepts and posted the second-highest accurate pass percentage of his career. That’ll work.

Critical areas

Turnovers: Patriots 1, Steelers 1
Explosive play rate: Patriots 7.3%, Steelers 7.2%
Success rate: Patriots 32%, Steelers 42%
Red-zone efficiency: Patriots 2-2, Steelers 1-2
Defensive pressure rate: Patriots 26.8%, Steelers 16.7%

Offense

New England Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) dives for the end zone on a 15 yard touchdown reception during an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

Game plan

Personnel breakdown: 59% of snaps in 12 personnel, 34% snaps in 11 personnel, 5% snaps in 13 personnel, 2% in 21 personnel.***
Personnel production: 4.7 yards/play in 12 personnel, 6.6 yards/play in 11 personnel, 4.7 yards/play in 13 personnel, 8.0 yards/play in 21 personnel.
First-down down play-calls: 54% pass (9.1 yards per play), 46% run (2.5 yards per play)
Play-action rate: 12.5%

Player stats

Broken tackles: Ezekiel Elliott 6, Pharaoh Brown
Pressure allowed: RG Sidy Sow (2 sacks, hurry)
Run-stuffs allowed: Team 4, Sow
Penalties: TE Hunter Henry (pass interference, false start), LT Conor McDermott (holding)
Drops: RB Ty Montgomery, Elliott

Notes

For a second straight game, the Patriots game-planned to play through their backfield. Ezekiel Elliott touched the ball on more than half of their offensive snaps, though most of his yards proved to be empty calories.
The Pats posted just a 16% success rate when rushing on first and second down, which set them back on several possessions, most in a scoreless second half.
Bailey Zappe bailed them out on their opening touchdown drive with a third-down scramble, then Hunter Henry vaulted the Pats ahead by scoring on a short field and later an explosive pass play. The Pats had zero second-half drives with an explosive play.

Henry caught his second touchdown on a fake screen concept that sent him up the left seam, while Zappe pump-faked to JuJu Smith-Schuster standing in the flat. That fake broke tendency for the screen-happy Pats and caused the nearest Steelers defensive back to fly at Smith-Schuster, leaving space for Henry to run into.
That concept also mirrored one of Mac Jones’ toughest interceptions this season: Jalen Ramsey’s near pick-six at Miami. While the two play design’s weren’t identical, Zappe was a touch more decisive and forceful on his throw; small differences that can make or break a deep passing game.
Elliott scored the game’s first touchdown on another staple red-zone concept: a two-man, pick-route combination that had Henry screening Elliott’s defender on a “stop route” while Elliott ran into the flat. The Patriots love throwing to their running backs on that play in that area.

Underrated play of the game: Elliott tackling Pittsburgh linebacker Mykal Walker to prevent a pick-six with less a minute left in the third quarter.
Had Walker reached the end zone, the Steelers trail by three to five entering the fourth quarter, with plenty of time left and Bill O’Brien trying to drain that clock with conservative play-calling.
Whether or not O’Brien’s confidence in Zappe waned around then, after his interception and near pick, the staff clearly had no confidence in non-Elliott running backs.
Ty Montgomery played five snaps, caught one pass, dropped another and didn’t take a carry. He was waived Friday. None of the other running backs played, beside Elliott.
After his contested catch, Smith-Schuster picked up 17 yards against tight coverage on a deep crosser off play-action and then ripped through the Steelers’ secondary on a slant against zone coverage for 28 yards.
Zappe later returned to him to try and convert third-and-8 on a slant-flat route combination the Patriots have used in previous critical situations. Keep an eye out for that the next time the offense needs to move the chains late and/or in a tight game.
Opponents continue to successfully target rookie right guard Sidy Sow on interior stunts that force him to pass off rushers and free defenders for sacks. He allowed both sacks in Pittsburgh, plus a run-stuff and a hurry.

Outstanding game by right tackle Mike Onwenu. He allowed a single pressure to All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt, a major bounce-back performance after getting beat repeatedly against the Chargers.
The Patriots also tried to neutralize Watt by running “counter” runs at him with a pulling tackle. Those yielded mixed results, though Watt finished with just five tackles, including one for loss.
Conor McDermott started again at left tackle, though Trent Brown played the majority of snaps at that spot. Brown might return to full-time duties next week, health pending.
Center David Andrews is the only Patriot to play 100% of offensive snaps this season.
No catches for tight end Mike Gesicki and zero snaps for quarterback/receiver Malik Cunningham for a second straight week.

Defense

New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers (5) runs with the ball after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Game plan

Personnel breakdown: 42% three-corner nickel package, 23% three-safety nickel, 26% dime, 6% base, 3% dollar.****
Coverage snaps breakdown: 78% zone, 22% man
Blitz rate: 24%
Blitz efficacy: 6.4 yards allowed per dropback, 40% success rate

Player stats

Interceptions: S Jabrill Peppers
Pass deflections: S Kyle Dugger, DB Myles Bryant, LB Mack Wilson
Pressure: Dugger 4 (sack, QB hit, 2 hurries), Wilson (sack), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (QB hit), DL Keion White (hurry), DL Davon Godchaux (hurry), DL Christian Barmore (hurry) Team 2 (2 hurries)
Run stuffs: LB Anfernee Jennings 2, S Jalen Mills, Godchaux, Bryant
Missed tackles: Jonathan Jones, Peppers, Dugger, Barmore, Bryant, Jennings
Penalties: CB J.C. Jackson (pass interference x2), S Brenden Schooler (unnecessary roughness), Dugger (pass interference)

Notes

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) is stopped by New England Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (3) during the first half of an NFL football game on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky did the Patriots small favors throughout the game, prematurely bailing from pockets, going 3-of-12 on throws longer than 10 yards and flailing under pressure.
Between his inaccuracy and tendency to panic, and their short-circuited run game, the Steelers managed just one drive longer than 32 yards, excluding their two-play, 45-yard nothing-burger in the final seconds.
Trubisky’s long, fourth-down incompletion at 2:01 remaining was both mystifying in the moment and a major triumph for veteran corner Jonathan Jones, who had tight, disciplined coverage on the play.
The Patriots played man-to-man coverage sparingly, but held the Steelers to 2-of-6, plus a sack, one scramble and a defensive pass interference penalty on those snaps.
It’s likely the Pats worked from a zone-heavy plan to keep eyes on Trubisky, an eager and talented scrambler who covered 15 yards on his first play and ran for 81 yards in his first meeting with Bill Belichick.
The Patriots sacked Trubisky and secured their lone interception on the same zone “creeper” design. Defensive backs Kyle Dugger and Myles Bryant blitzed off the left side, while the right outside linebacker dropped off a three-man front to create confusion.

The Pats ran this same four-man “creeper” pressure in Week 5 against the Saints, and it led to a coverage sack for Bryant.
Belichick revealed post-game the defense prioritized eliminating dangerous second-year receiver George Pickens. Part of that strategy included playing Cover 2 on early downs, though Pittsburgh did the Pats another favor by having Pickens, a wildly talented deep threat, run short crossing routes almost exclusively.
Pickens’ 19-yard disappearing act rightfully gave the Patriots confidence in their other 1-on-1 coverage matchups. The only time they found trouble was when Diontae Johnson beat J.C. Jackson for a 25-yard touchdown. Jackson also got flagged for two pass interference penalties.
Jackson’s play continues to be unpredictable week-to-week, regardless of scheme or opponent. It’s worth wondering if rookie corner Alex Austin, who made his team debut and had a pass breakup, may soon enter the rotation for good.
Meanwhile, the Patriots’ run defense dominated, unequivocally and unapologetically. Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings and nose tackle Davon Godchaux led the wire-to-wire effort with three combined run-stuffs.

Jennings may have played the best game of his NFL career, notching three tackles for loss, the aforementioned run-stuffs and manhandling Steelers tight ends 1-on-1 on the edge.
Once the Patriots seized a 21-3 lead, the Steelers showed some play-calling desperation calling multiple reverses. The Pats got beat for a dozen yards on the first, but dropped the second for a loss of 7.
Safety Kyle Dugger has played better overall games than Thursday’s, but none better as a blitzer. His team-high four pressures came out of nowhere, a credit to his physicality and ability to elude blockers. Dugger also knocked one pass down.
Backup linebacker Mack Wilson is suddenly the most impactful down-to-down player at his position. In his third straight game with. a pass breakup, Wilson also tallied a sack.
Jahlani Tavai had the quietest 14-tackle game in recent Patriots history.

Studs

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

New England Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (7) signs an autograph after an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

The ex-Steeler caught four passes for a season-high 90 yards, including two explosive plays that powered the Patriots’ highest-scoring first half in almost two years. His 90 yards were also a personal best in almost 14 months.

RB Ezekiel Elliott

A throwback, workhorse performance from Elliott, who played 52 of 57 offensive snaps. His 140 total yards not only led all players Thursday, but marked a new season high.

S Kyle Dugger

Dugger made his imprint on the game foremost as a blitzer (four pressures), but also broke up a pass and discouraged Trubisky from making other throws underneath.

OLB Anfernee Jennings

Jennings led all Patriots with three tackles for loss, two run-stuffs and tossing Steelers tight ends around like a game of catch. Great game, perhaps the best of his career.

Duds

CB J.C. Jackson

New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium, Sunday Nov. 5, 2023 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)

Jackson allowed the Steelers’ first touchdown and got flagged twice for pass interference penalties. There is no player the Patriots ride a week-to-week roller coaster with his performance quite like Jackson, who hit another severe low Thursday.

RB/WR Ty Montgomery

Montgomery was replaced on punt protection after the second-half punt block and dropped a pass on offense.

OL Sidy Sow

The rookie right guard allowed a team-worst three pressures and was closest on both of Zappe’s sacks.

Related Articles

Patriots mailbag: What’s Bailey Zappe’s future with organization?

Patriots lose veteran LB again to Dolphins

Source: Patriots lose offensive coach with 4 games left

Patriots release hybrid RB/WR to make room for ex-Eagles linebacker

Bill Belichick opens up about what Army-Navy Game at Gillette Stadium means to him

Statistics for passing depth, broken tackles and missed tackles courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

*Explosive plays are defined as runs of 12-plus yards and passes of 20-plus yards. Explosive play rate is one of the most strongly correlated metrics with wins and losses.

**Success rate is an efficiency metric measuring how often an offense stays on schedule. A play is successful when it gains at least 40% of yards-to-go on first down, 60% of yards-to-go on second down and 100% of yards-to-go on third or fourth down.

***11 personnel = one running back, one tight end; 12 personnel = one running back, two tight ends; 13 personnel = one running back, three tight ends; 21 = two halfbacks, one tight end.  

****Base defense = four defensive backs; nickel defense = five defensive backs; dime defense = six defensive backs; dollar defense = seven defensive backs.