Oh, we long for the old days of the Patriots-Steelers rivalry.

Instead of Tom Brady we get a Mac With a Bad Back.

Instead of Big Ben we get Miniscule Mitch.

Today will definitely not be your father’s Steelers-Patriots.

Heck, the ketchup bottles aren’t even there in Pittsburgh, right? Not now that it’s gone from being Heinz Field to some new corporate name. Yeah, Acrisure Stadium. Shame. The Patriots won two AFC Championship games there.

But all of that really doesn’t matter, does it? We have to live in the present, and there’s plenty of drama around the Patriots these days. You’re certainly not going to get Bill Belichick to reminisce.

“I think at this point, really it’s all just my focus is on this week’s game,” he said, “and not worry too much about those other ones. There were some good ones, there was the Haloween game (2011?), but it’s all in the past.”

But the Steelers, he said, haven’t changed.

“The Steelers have a brand of football, and they’ve been very consistent in it through the years.”

The Patriots will look to quiet the noise, the criticisms of the offense, the play calling, etc. Can they?

Let’s take a look. Like the Patriots, we’re looking to do better than last week’s start (3-4).:

PATRIOTS 24, STEELERS 13

Why were the Patriots favored all week despite being on the road? Because the Steelers lost T.J. Watt, have a banged up running back, and Mitch – oh, excuse us, Mitchell – Trubisky as their quarterback. Look, we know that things aren’t all great in Patriot Land, but you just can’t lose to a Trubisky team.

RAVENS 21, DOLPHINS 17

Miami will stop the run and dare Lamar Jackson to throw. He might have trouble with the Dolphins secondary, but you know what? That’s when he runs. Pay attention, Pats fans, since the Ravens are at Gillette next week.

BILLS 27, TITANS 17

Josh Allen vs. Ryan Tannehill. Hmmm, do we need to flip a coin? The Titan defense is in for a rude awakening because it’s not Daniel Jones throwing the ball Monday night in Buffalo. ESPN got a good one for a change.

BUCS 27, SAINTS 21

The number is two – over-under on Jameis Winston interceptions thrown – and we’re going with the over. This used to be such a fun matchup for Tom Brady when Drew Brees was the Saints QB.

VIKINGS 30, EAGLES 24

Philly is good, and is our pick to win the NFC East, but we’re still not a big believer in Jalen Hurts. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was off to a good start, and the roll continues.

BENGALS 40, COWBOYS 21

No Dak, no win. The Cowboys are right back where they were two years ago, but not the Bengals, who if they had a capable backup long snapper would have beaten Pittsburgh last Sunday. Joe Burrow rules.

RAIDERS 37, CARDINALS 17

The heat will be on in the desert, although it will be on the Cardinals waaaay more then Josh McDaniels and the Raiders, who will contain Kyler Murray and please the fans in their home opener.

LAST WEEK: 3-4

SEASON: 3-4

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).