Maybe the shell-shocked Patriots will have a measure of confidence heading into Pittsburgh on Sunday, having defeated the Steelers in five straight outings.

But along with trying to recover from Sunday’s jarring, last-second loss in Miami, there’s more trouble lurking at Heinz Field.

Given what we’ve seen from how the Pats have fared against many of their ex-players and coordinators at different points this season, the Dolphin’s game being the latest example with little-used Brandon Bolden torching them for a pair of touchdowns, the defense better wake up, clog the gaping holes in the middle of the line, and do a much better job tackling on Sunday.

Why?

Stevan Ridley’s in the house. The former Patriots running back is now a member of the Steelers. He was thrust into action last week with starter James Connor sidelined. It’s possible he’ll be in the mix this week.

Let’s just say if the Steelers are smart — which is debatable with Mike Tomlin and his history of questionable moves — they’ll make sure Ridley gets some touches against his former team.

Sure, there’s Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers elite group of receivers with Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. They are going to be a handful on their own for the Patriots defense.

And Bill Belichick pointed out their awesomeness during his conference call Tuesday, along with the challenge they’re going to pose come Sunday.

Ridley’s name didn’t come up during Belichick’s session. But neither did Bolden’s last week.

There’s just something about former Patriots going up against Belichick this season. The exes have clearly been winning the revenge game, and with the exception of beating Bill O’Brien and the Texans Week One, it isn’t close at this point.

For those keeping score, the Patriots were out-coached by their former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia Week 3, with the Lions blowing out the Patriots in Detroit. Then, they were taken down by a whole crew of former Patriots in Tennessee Week 10.

Former Super Bowl-winning linebacker Mike Vrabel, former defensive coordinator Dean Pees, cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan and running back Dion Lewis enjoyed bragging rights, with the latter really making it known he had an axe to grind following the 34-10 Titans victory.

Vrabel also out-coached his former coach. Lewis was particularly effective in the first half of that game. Butler, meanwhile, may have been struggling leading up to that contest, but he wasn’t a liability during that game. The Patriots rarely threw in his direction. And he’s turned it around ever since, playing well at corner for the Titans.

Then came Sunday in Miami. Danny Amendola and Bolden got to boast when the Dolphins won in the closing seconds on a crazy hook-and-ladder play the Patriots somehow failed to defend with the proper personnel. Actually, you can add in former offensive lineman Ted Larsen. Both Larsen, the Dolphins starting left guard, and Amendola were instrumental in making a block on Patrick Chung to spring Kenyan Drake on that final play.

While Amendola wasn’t much of a factor as a receiver, Bolden ran like a man possessed.

Bolden, who had been barely used by the Dolphins in the running game, embarrassed his former team on two carries alone. Maybe it wasn’t as personal for him, like it was for Lewis, but he still killed the Patriots, taking both carries to the house.

His line read two rushes for 60 yards and two scores. He wasn’t used in the running game in Foxboro the first time the teams played in a losing effort, but Dolphins coach Adam Gase smartly rolled him out on Sunday, and Bolden made his former team pay.

And wouldn’t you know, right on cue, Ridley, the Patriots third round pick in 2011, is on deck Sunday in Pittsburgh.

With Connor out nursing an injury, the Steelers went with a running back by committee in the loss against the Raiders. While Jaylen Samuels got the bulk of the carries (11 rushes for 28 yards), Ridley had five carries, one of those crossing the goal line for a touchdown.

If little-used Bolden buried the Patriots on the ground, Ridley, a former 1,000-yard rusher for the Pats, is probably licking his chops for a turn.

If Tomlin has been paying attention, Ridley might be a wise choice to get some carries given the trend with ex-players.

Of course, the Steelers went nowhere on the ground against the Raiders. Without Connor, they got stuffed. The Dolphins weren’t exactly lighting it up with their ground game prior to facing the Patriots, either.

But they walked away with a 9 yards per carry average, partly because of Bolden. He was a catalyst. So was Lewis in the first half of that Titans game. It really doesn’t take much.

Could Ridley be another spark on an offense that’s loaded with receiving stars?

“Obviously we had him here, so we have some history with him and we know what kind of runner he is,” said Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores. “He was obviously productive for us a few years back.”

Given the trend, odds are on Ridley to make some noise — if Tomlin has been doing his homework.