Mitch Trubisky: 'I feel like I let the guys down'

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) quarterback Mitch Trubisky admitted Thursday he feels like he let his team down in the 21-18 Week 14 defeat to the New England Patriots (3-10).

“I gotta play better,” Trubisky said, via the team’s website. “I feel like I let the guys down. We gotta score off the turnover, a couple of those fourth downs, the one in the red zone and the one ball to Diontae [Johnson]. I gotta be better for the guys, for the team. It’s disappointing, missed opportunities, and I didn’t play good enough for us to win and that’s how I am feeling right now.”

Trubisky, getting the start under center in place of Kenny Pickett, who underwent successful surgery on his ankle Monday after suffering the injury in the 24-10 Week 13 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals (3-10), completed 22-of-35 passes for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Steelers went three-and-out four times and totaled just 264 yards.

“They did a good job of disrupting the timing of some of our routes,” Trubisky said. “We got in some third-and-long situations, which is tough against those guys. That’s a solid defense. They do a good job of mixing up coverages, stopping the run, putting you in third-and-long, uncomfortable situations.

“They did a good job mixing coverage and just contesting throws, made it tough on us. We weren’t good enough in the first and second quarter, and that mostly starts with me. I feel like timing was a part of that. I just got to be better.”

Mitch Trubisky subject to boos from Steelers fans

Trubisky was on the receiving end of boos from the crowd at Acrisure Stadium during the first half — a half in which he completed just six passes. Calls for Mason Rudolph were prevalent, though head coach Mike Tomlin said he never thought of inserting him in place of Trubisky. Trubisky said he understood why the fans were booing.

“It’s understandable,” Trubisky said. “We played like crap in the first half. It is what it is. They are frustrated. We are all frustrated. But we did better in the second half to give us a chance, but I have to play better. That’s the bottom line.”