Steelers vs. Patriots final score, results: Bailey Zappe's first-half flourish propels New England to upset win

David Suggs

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Steelers vs. Patriots final score, results: Bailey Zappe's first-half flourish propels New England to upset win image

It's been a turgid run for Bailey Zappe in recent weeks. The Patriots quarterback struggled to find his rhythm amid a cavalcade of defenders, entering Thursday's clash with two interceptions to zero touchdowns and just 299 yards passing in five appearances this year.

On Thursday, though, he turned back the clock. Well, sort of...

Zappe enjoyed perhaps the best showing of his professional career, tossing three first-half touchdowns to vanquish the Steelers and shock the NFL world.

He flourished in the pocket, showcasing improved accuracy while rifling arrows to the likes of Hunter Henry and Juju Smith-Schuster.

He tossed a delightful feather to Henry for his third score of the night, one of the better throws of his young career. And although he was occasionally flustered by a rampant pass rush that included T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward and Alex Highsmith, Zappe by and large stood upright to the challenge. Pittsburgh's defense is no slouch. On Thursday, neither was Zappe.

Zappe finished the day completing 19-of-his-28 passes for 240 yards, three scores and but one interception. He outshined his opposite number, Mitchell Trubisky. And although he slowed down a bit in the second half, Zappe's showing was enough to power the Pats to a third win of the season.

The win may have resulted in a bit frustratingly for New England fans, who have their eyes on the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but don't fear, the Patriots remain in the No. 2 spot, right behind the Panthers. Meanwhile, the loss for the Steelers dropped the wild-card occupants out of the playoff, plummeting from the No. 5 seed to eighth in the AFC. 

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The Sporting News tracked live updates from the 'Thursday Night Football' clash between the Steelers and Patriots. Scroll below for highlights and live results from all the action as it happened from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Steelers vs. Patriots score

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Steelers vs. Patriots live updates, results, highlights from 'Thursday Night Football'

(All times Eastern)

End of fourth quarter: Patriots 21, Steelers 18

11:18 p.m.: The Steelers attempt at a hook-and-lateral play falls short! The Patriots (somehow) win tonight's game!

11:16 p.m.: Steelers have one more opportunity. Trubisky returns to the field with 15 seconds left and a whole field to race through. Started with a decent bit of yardage courtesy of a throw to Johnson. Seven seconds left.

11:11 p.m.: Elliott barrels through the mist, but is unable to reach the marker for the first down! Pittsburgh still has a chance!

11:06 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Trubisky delivers a pass towards the Johnson! But his throw strays wide, giving the ball back to the Pats with a little less than two minutes left.

10:55 p.m.: Shocking call by the referees, who rule that Pittsburgh committed a false start despite it looking like the Patriots were offsides on the hard count. I am confused in every sense of the word!

10:52 p.m.: Steelers move the chains on fourth down after holding the Pats scoreless on the ensuing drive. Pittsburgh is surging!

10:39 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Five plays later and Pittsburgh finds the end zone! Trubisky leaps over the mire to bag another score and bring the Steelers even closer! They add a two-point conversion one play later! It's getting interesting here at Acrisure!

Patriots 21, Steelers 18

10:35 p.m.: BLOCKED PUNT! Pittsburgh's special team comes through in the clutch! Swats away New England's punt to set the Pats up in brilliant field position!

10:31 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Jaylen Warren unable to break free at the border! The Patriots hold on fourth!

End of third quarter: Patriots 21, Steelers 10

10:25 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! Zappe's first blemish of the day! The Pats gunslinger attempted to rifle a pass into Smith-Schuster's wicket. However, it rattled off his frame (courtesy of an impressive Minkah Fitzpatrick deflection) and straight into the waiting arms of Mykal Walker, who takes it back all the way to New England's 15-yard line! Huge play that should help the Steelers conjure up some points.

10:14 p.m.: Steelers defense reaches Zappe like a flash, sending him into the turf on third down. Pittsburgh is giving itself a chance to get back into this one. And it's coming on the defensive end.

10:00 p.m.: What a play by tight end Connor Hayward! Hurdled over his opposition marker and stretch over the first down line to keep the chains moving on third down! Great start thus far for the Steelers.

End of second quarter: Patriots 21, Steelers 10

9:28 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Trubisky steals hearts with a peach of a pass to Diontae Johnson. 25 yards with swiftness! Pittsburgh is on the board!

Patriots 21, Steelers 10

9:19 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Zappe hits Henry with perhaps the best throw of his career for his third score of the game! What a showing!

Patriots 21, Steelers 3

9:17 p.m.: Zappe carving through this Pittsburgh defense with relative ease. Just completed a 28-yard dart to Smith-Schuster. En Fuego...

9:11 p.m.: Been a rough watch for Trubisky so far. He's 3-of-8 for 19 yards and an interception. And he's got the Steelers fans yearning for the dulcet tones of Mason Rudolph.

9:02 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Patriots add to the mix with another score courtesy of a Zappe strike to Hunter Henry. New England is rolling!

Patriots 14, Steelers 3

8:57 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! Trubisky's errant throw finds a certain Jabrill Peppers, who takes it down some 32 yards towards the Pats' end zone.

End of first quarter: Patriots 7, Steelers 3

8:45 p.m.: Zappe has been quite effective thus far. He's 6-of-8 for 97 yards and the score. Just completed a pair of dots, first to Tyquan Thompson, then to Smith-Schuster. He's got the Patriots barreling towards midfield.

8:32 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Chris Boswell sinks from distance to cut that early Pats' advantage to four.

Patriots 7, Steelers 3

8:29 p.m.: Trubisky gets a bit of fortune, seeing his interception overturned after J.J. Jackson is called for a defensive pass interference.

8:26 p.m.: Trubisky and the Steelers frolic onto the meadow. And Trubisky starts the game with a bang, slaloming beyond defenders for a 15-yard carry

8:22 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Zappe finds Elliott to open the scoring early! How delightful! A first period score!

Patriots 7, Steelers 0

8:21 p.m.: Zappe races down the field for a dozen yards of so. New England is inside the 20-yard line.

8:19 p.m.: Zappe airs things out, hitting Smith-Schuster with a delicate strike. Great start for the Pats, who are on the brink of the red zone after a few plays!

8:18 p.m.: First play of the game and T.J. Watt is down! Looks like he took a serious shot to the head while attempting to bring down Ezekiel Elliott.

8:15 p.m.: Patriots streaming onto the field. Bailey Zappe leading the troops tonight.

7:58 p.m.: The Patriots have dressed three wide receivers for tonight's game. In case you were wondering how seriously they are taking this one.

7:50 p.m.: Lots of love for former Steeler Juju Smith-Schuster, who returns to Acrisure Stadium for the first time as a member of the Patriots.

Steelers vs. Patriots start time

  • Date: Thursday, Dec. 7
  • Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET

Thursday night's game between the Steelers and the Patriots will kick off in prime time at 8:15 p.m. ET from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

What channel is Steelers vs. Patriots on today?

  • Game: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots
  • Date: Thursday, Dec. 7
  • TV channel (Pittsburgh): WPXI
  • TV channel (Boston): WFXT
  • Live stream: Amazon Prime Video | DAZN (in Canada)

Thursday's clash between the Steelers and the Patriots will air exclusively on Amazon Prime outside of the Pittsburgh and Boston local markets. Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (color analyst) will be on the call from Acrisure Stadium, while Kaylee Hartung will offer her musings as a sideline reporter.

Viewers in Pittsburgh and Boston can catch the game on WPXI and WFXT, respectively. 

Audience members in Canada can stream it on DAZN, which carries every NFL game of the season.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.