Main stories in the links today are just like the headline: Suggested ways to replace – or work around – the huge hole left when Mike Onwenu broke his ankle, as well as figuring out what happened with Drake Maye’s mojo. Both are fixable, but the training staff can’t simply put the QB’s head in a cast for a few weeks to heal up. Confidence and trust are tricky things to build, and Josh McDaniels has his work cut out for him.
The usual film reviews, breakdowns and grades are here and some terrific podcasts to substitute in for the doomer sports talk radio stations. Enjoy!
TEAM TALK
Evan Lazar’s After Further Review: Drake Maye film breakdown, defense review, and quick-hit film notes. “There were at least three instances where Maye could’ve held firm or maneuvered in the pocket to let his routes develop downfield, but he gave up too quickly on the play.” /Good read.
Press Conference: Mike Vrabel.
WEEI Patriots Monday: Mike Vrabel (16 min. video) and Drake Maye (14 min.)
Inside the Locker Room after New England’s win over the Steelers. (1 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
Andrew Callahan’s Patriots film review: What went wrong for Drake Maye and went right for the defense.
Steve Balestrieri issues his Week 2 Patriots positional report card vs. Steelers. Offense will be scraping gum off the bottom of the desks while the defense enjoys their special ice cream party.
Michael Hurley serves up some still-warm leftover Patriots thoughts: Pass rush has been the surprise of young season. “The Patriots, quite simply, smothered the man.“
Jerry Thornton shares his knee-jerk reactions to Week 2, Patriots-Steelers: The defense now having properly been given the flowers they earned, let’s …talk about Maye. Which has to begin with acknowledging …you have to take the bad with the good.
Chad Finn’s Unconventional Review: Solid effort from defense, offense spotty; More. One might suggest they roughed up Aaron Rodgers so thoroughly that he’s probably remembering his time with the Jets fondly.
Mark Daniels’ Patriots takeaways: Mike Vrabel provides updates on several injured starters.
Matt Vautour says the Patriots will gladly take the win, but face a reckoning ahead.
Ethan Hurwitz thumbnails 5 Patriots who will need to step up to help replace injured Mike Onwenu.
Matt Vautour notes late-camp signing Greg Van Roten (No. 70) has become an early-season necessity.
Doug Kyed suggests if Onwenu is out for the season, the Patriots could take a longer-term approach to move 2026 first-round pick Caleb Lomu inside from tackle to guard.
Alex Barth looks at which players could see more time with the latest injury problems.
Hector Longo notes the hunt is on to solve Drake Maye’s struggles, even in victory. “For the most part, it was pretty good,” said coach Mike Vrabel after the QB threw his eighth interception in the last six games.
Conor Ryan explains how a rookie and undrafted free agent made life miserable for Aaron Rodgers.
Karen Guregian spotlights how the young edge rushers have been a pleasant surprise.
Khari Thompson points out how DeMario Douglas, all 5-foot-8, 185-pounds of him, helped spring TreVeyon Henderson for the Patriots’ only offensive touchdown.
Mark Morse gives us the Good, Bad & Ugly as the defense leads the way to the first victory of 2026.
Hayden Bird highlights Mike Vrabel on Drake Maye, Mike Onwenu, and the red zone play-calling, “I think the easy thing is to say, ‘Well, that’s a terrible call, or the guys should’ve done better.’ Fellas, we have to be able to get into a rhythm.”
Doug Kyed mentions the Steelers catching a stray while Mike Vrabel puts the win in perspective, “I don’t think this was one of the best offenses we’ll face this year, so try to keep things in perspective and go from there,”
Alex Barth’s Patriots Mailbag: Jump-starting the offense.
Pats Procrastination podcast: Clare and Chudders celebrate their 100th episode discussing the Pats win over the Steelers. (24 min.)
Title Talk podcast: Luke and Brycen discuss Patriots owning the Steelers, Drake Maye, and more. (76 min)
Pats Chat podcast: Doug Kyed and Michael Hurley break down the win, give props to the pass rush, and pick this week’s Booms & Dooms. (67 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
Kevin Patra (NFL) Week 2 Sunday aftermath: Surprising Raiders, soaring Chiefs among top 5 storylines.
Jori Epstein (Yahoo! Sports) Mike Vrabel when asked about Drake Maye’s game vs. Steelers: ‘You’re not going to ruin my Sunday.’
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Tom Pelissero (The Sweep) Week 2 Insider Notebook: The butterfly effect of the Deshaun Watson trade, four years later; Plus, intel on the Joey Porter Jr. saga in Pittsburgh and more.
Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) Week 2 Winners and Losers. Losers: Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers… It was a pretty easy day for the Patriots. /Click for delicious tears commentary.
Staff (The Ringer) The Winners and Losers of the Week 2
Dan Graziano (ESPN) Judging the biggest overreactions to Week 2 games. Aaron Rodgers will get benched at some point this season. Verdict: Overreaction.
Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Report: Joey Porter Jr. rejected $27 million in 2026.
Jay Busbee (Yahoo! Sports) Jim Harbaugh is in unfamiliar territory … and the Chargers are in trouble.
