NFL insider shares concerning details regarding the state of the Steelers’ defense after humiliating performance against Bengals
Not a good look for the Steelers defense.
It’s one thing to lose an AFC North game on the road on a short week. But it’s another to lose said game by letting up over 340 passing yards to a 40-year-old Joe Flacco en route to a 33-31 loss. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was a massive disappointment.
But because of the process rather than the result. One of the league’s highest-paid defenses let the NFL’s worst rushing attack go for over 140 yards on the ground. That point especially sticks in the craw of Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Patrick Queen.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN proved as much with some telling comments after observing the Steelers locker room.
Steelers dejected after Bengals loss
“I was in the locker room last night, and there was a mix of confusion and really anger,” said Fowler. “Talking to Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, they were just talking about how unacceptable this performance was. Mainly from a run-defense standpoint. We know that Joe Flacco was getting his yards, and Ja’Marr Chase can go off when he does get one-on-one coverage. They want to clean up their matchups on the back end, but they feel like that is only elevated when you can get it done with the run defense. The Steelers have always prided themselves on that.”
You never make excuses for players, but it was clear coming into the game that history was not on the Steelers’ side. Yet, that’s what made the loss all the more disappointing.
If the Steelers were true contenders, they would have kept their foot on the gas and put a stranglehold on their AFC North lead. It doesn’t mean they can’t make a run or still win the north, but that kind of showing doesn’t elicit the same confidence a win would have.
“It’s gonna be a hard 10 days for this team,” added Fowler. “We’re talking to linebacker Patrick Queen. He was just talking about how they weren’t in the right places. There was miscommunication and in Week 7 for a team that’s supposed to be a divisional leader [that’s bad].”
The persistence of communication issues is like an ice pick to the knee. A lot of people placed the blame on Minkah Fitzpatrick last year, and injuries early this year. But there is one common denominator, and that’s the man calling the shots in Pittsburgh.
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