DEFENSIVE BACKS
When your opponent converts 10 of its first 13 third downs, it's troubling, but the secondary tightened up in the final minutes. The Steelers could not convert their final three third downs, including one that ended the game. The secondary showed great awareness on the final play when Ben Roethlisberger faked a spike and tried to throw to receiver Eli Rogers on an ill-advised slant. Cornerback Eric Rowe stuck with Rogers like glue (literally since he was holding the back of his jersey), dove and deflected the ball, which landed in the hands of safety Duron Harmon. Game over. On first down, Harmon was walled off by JuJu SmithSchuster, allowing tight end Jesse James to break free in the middle. He made the catch but tried to reach over the goal line, which saved the Pats' skins. Corner Stephon Gilmore had a tough day, especially against Martavis Bryant, who beat him for 39 yards on an up route and for a 4-yard TD on a shallow cross. The worst was when Gilmore took a dive as tackle Chris Hubbard was barreling toward him on a sweep with Le'Veon Bell behind him. Gilmore made no effort, and Bell ran by him for 18 yards. Malcolm Butler never would do that. He recovered from last week's debacle in Miami and played fairly well, although he lost Antonio Brown once for 19 yards. Rowe and safety Jordan Richards were responsible on Smith-Schuster's 69-yard sprint on the final drive. All seemed lost, but because of Rowe's heads-up play 30 seconds later, it wasn't.