PITTSBURGH – For decades, Steelers football has been synonymous with defense. The Steel Curtain, James Harrison, Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, the legacy runs deep. But after the Week 10 shootout loss in Los Angeles and a string of high-scoring affairs, a noticeable shift has emerged. The offense has been carrying the load, while the defense has been left to answer tough questions.
This week, in postgame press conferences, several of Pittsburgh’s defensive leaders voiced what many already knew: the offense is producing at an elite level, and the defense simply is not matching it. The words were not excuses but admissions, with the kind of blunt honesty you only get from veterans who understand the standard.
Darius Slay: “We cannot waste what the offense is doing”
Cornerback Darius Slay, who had one of the defensive highlights of the season with his 95-yard pick six against the Chargers, was the first to step up to the mic. His message was clear.
“We cannot waste what the offense is doing right now,” Slay said. “They are putting up points like crazy, moving the ball on anybody, and we are giving up too much. That is not acceptable. We got big plays, yeah, but defense is not about just one or two highlights. It is about consistency, and right now, we are not giving it to them.”
Jalen Ramsey: “This is Pittsburgh, defense has to set the tone”
Across the room, Jalen Ramsey echoed the same sentiment but leaned harder into the identity of the franchise.
“This is Pittsburgh. Defense has to set the tone,” Ramsey said. “Ridder, DK, Nate, they are balling out. But if we are letting teams put up 30, 40, 50 points, that is not Steelers football. I came here to help build something back on this side of the ball. That means accountability, and I am holding myself to that too. We cannot be happy with splash plays and then give up long drives. That is not who we are supposed to be.”
T.J. Watt: “We are not meeting the standard”
The face of the defense, T.J. Watt, did not mince words.
“We are not meeting the standard,” Watt said flatly. “That is the bottom line. It does not matter how many sacks I get, how many turnovers we force. If we give up 60 points, it is not good enough. We have to be better. The offense is doing everything they can, and we owe it to them to close games out.”
Cameron Heyward: “It is not just about one side of the ball”
Veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who has been the anchor of Pittsburgh’s line for more than a decade, took a measured approach.
“It is not just about one side of the ball. Football is complementary,” Heyward said. “But right now, it feels like they are carrying more than they should have to. That has to change. We got young guys like Harmon and Benton who are learning, and that is part of it, but us vets have to show the way. We cannot be in games where the offense puts up 50 plus and still leaves with an L. That is on us.”
Alex Highsmith: “It is frustrating”
Edge rusher Alex Highsmith, often overshadowed by Watt but productive in his own right, voiced his frustration as well.
“It is frustrating,” Highsmith admitted. “The offense is giving us every chance to win, and we are making it harder than it needs to be. I know what we are capable of as a defense. We got talent everywhere. But we are not putting it together right now. We got to be honest with ourselves about that.”
Patrick Queen: “We cannot keep relying on shootouts”
Linebacker Patrick Queen, now in his 2nd year wearing black and gold, has quickly become one of the leaders of the unit. His message was sharp.
“We cannot keep relying on shootouts,” Queen said. “That is not how championships are won. I know what it takes, and it starts with defense setting the tone. Right now, the offense is scoring enough to win every week, and we are putting them in positions where they have to bail us out. That has to stop. It is on us to fix it.”
Coach LaFleur Takes Accountability
While the defensive leaders took ownership, head coach DK LaFleur made sure the blame did not rest on players alone. In his postgame press conference, he was quick to shoulder responsibility.
“I do not even have to look at the tape to think of three or four things where I am asking myself, why did I even make that call,” LaFleur admitted. “We clearly should have approached certain situations differently. Of course we will review the film, but ultimately this falls on me before anyone else. My job is to make sure these guys are in a position to succeed first and foremost, and that is where it starts.”
LaFleur also reminded everyone that he knows what kind of defense it takes to win a Super Bowl. He pointed back to his time with the Los Angeles Rams, when Jalen Ramsey was a cornerstone of a championship unit. “We have been to the top before, and we know what it looks like,” LaFleur said. “Having Jalen here now makes it even better, because he understands what it takes as well. That is the standard we are chasing.”
LaFleur then made his message crystal clear. “We will be better. There is no doubt in my mind,” he said firmly. “This group is too talented, too smart, and too proud not to respond. I take the blame for this one, but I promise you we are going to come out stronger on the other side.”
Final Thoughts
The Steelers’ defense has been a paradox this season. They have created highlight plays, interceptions, fumbles, defensive touchdowns, but they have also been gashed for massive yardage and points. That inconsistency has turned every game into a rollercoaster, even when the offense delivers historic production.
The comments from Slay, Ramsey, Watt, Heyward, Highsmith, Queen, and LaFleur are more than postgame soundbites. They are a collective admission that the defense is not living up to its legacy. And in Pittsburgh, legacy is everything.
The offense has proven it can hang with anyone. Now it is time for the defense to do the same. For a city built on toughness and a franchise defined by defense, the message is simple: enough is enough. And with LaFleur adamant about the improvement to come, Steelers Nation can expect the response to match the words.
– Forged In Steel Times
