Steelers enter bye week after falling to Patriots for 2nd straight loss

A week that began with backup quarterback Landry Jones issuing a “Don't panic” pep talk ended with the Steelers muttering another two-word phrase after a 27-16 loss Sunday to the New England Patriots at Heinz Field.

What if?

What if a holding call against tackle Chris Hubbard hadn't negated a second-quarter touchdown pass from Jones to Darrius Heyward-Bey, wiping out their potential second scoring hookup of the game?

What if Chris Boswell hadn't followed by missing a 42-yard field goal?

What if Jones hadn't thrown an interception in the end zone to end the Steelers' first drive?

What if the Steelers defense hadn't allowed Tom Brady to be perfect on third down while building a 14-0 lead?

What if Rob Gronkowski hadn't made two game-changing catches after the Steelers clawed within one point in the third quarter?

And what if the Steelers hadn't allowed a 100-yard rusher for the second week in a row as ex-teammate LeGarrette Blount churned out 127 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries?

“We know when we go back and look at film that there were a lot of missed opportunities,” said running back Le'Veon Bell, who had 81 yards rushing on 21 carries and 68 yards receiving on 10 catches. “We know what we should have done, but we didn't execute and do it right at the time.”

Because of those missed chances, the Steelers head into their bye week with back-to-back losses and a 4-3 record, which still gives them a one-game lead over the Cincinnati Bengals and spiraling Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.

The Patriots, meanwhile, improved to an AFC-best 6-1. If the teams meet again, it won't be until the playoffs, and it probably would take place in hostile Foxborough, Mass.

“That's a long time from now,” Bell said. “We've got to win, they've got to win. Who knows what happens during the season? We had our shot. We missed it.”

Jones, making his first start this season and third of his career while Ben Roethlisberger watched from the sideline with his meniscus injury, directed one touchdown drive and three others that resulted in Boswell field goals.

Jones completed 29 of 47 passes for 281 yards, and Antonio Brown, fighting a quad injury in the second half, finished with seven catches for 106 yards.

“We moved the ball up and down the field, that was no issue,” Jones said. “The issue was in the red zone. We kicked field goals instead of scoring touchdowns.”

His counterpart, future Hall of Famer Brady, had no such difficulties in the red zone. He led the Patriots to four touchdowns, all coming on drives of at least 75 yards. After throwing for 406 and 376 yards in his first two starts since his Deflate-gate suspension, Brady had a pedestrian 222 passing yards, but he didn't throw an interception and wasn't sacked.

“We realized our margin for error was minimal,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

After the Steelers pulled within 14-13 in the third quarter, Brady hit his first big play of the game. Gronkowski, limited to one catch for 13 yards in the first half, got behind safety Robert Golden in single coverage for a 36-yard touchdown reception.

On the Patriots' next possession, Gronkowski's 37-yard catch set up Blount's 5-yard touchdown run that put the Steelers behind 27-16.

“On defense, we hold ourselves to a high standard,” said linebacker Jarvis Jones, who had seven tackles and forced and recovered a fumble. “The last few weeks we haven't been that defense.”

The Steelers had difficulty stopping the Patriots on third down as they converted 7 of 10 through three quarters.

“We would have some good plays, then there would be one or two every couple of series that ended up biting us in the butt,” linebacker Arthur Moats said.

The Steelers trailed 14-0 before Landry Jones and the offense found their footing. A 14-yard touchdown pass to Heyward-Bey and Boswell's 32-yard field goal pulled the Steelers within 14-10 at halftime.

But the Steelers could have had more. A turning point came in the second quarter with the Steelers trailing 14-7 when Jones connected with Heyward-Bey for another apparent 14-yard touchdown on a crossing route. But Hubbard, making his third start in place of Marcus Gilbert, was called for holding, pushing the ball back to the 24. After a Jones incompletion, Boswell pushed his 42-yard attempt wide right. Later, he missed a 54-yarder.

“It was the self-inflicted stuff,” guard Ramon Foster said. “We have to be better, more consistent on offense. We can't have red-zone errors. You have to put up points against the very elite teams in the AFC.”

The best news for the Steelers is they have two weeks to get Roethlisberger, defensive end Cam Heyward, receiver Markus Wheaton, Gilbert and others healthy.

They play the Ravens on Nov. 6 at M&T Stadium with first place in the division on the line.

“Getting healthy is the biggest part for the second half of this season,” Foster said. “We have to get guys back. It will be good to have everybody at full force.”

Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jrutter@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tribjoerutter.