A few weeks ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers were riding high with a 10-3 record, eyeing an AFC North title.
However, three straight losses in just 11 days have left Steel City reeling.
While there’s plenty of blame to go around for Wednesday’s heavy defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs—where Pittsburgh managed just 10 points in George Pickens’ return from injury—the postgame discussion in a frustrated locker room largely focused on a struggling defense that has surrendered 27 or more points in each of the last three games.
“Can’t explain it—it’s happening,” Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen expressed to reporters via 93.7 FM The Fan. “We keep talking about it, but no one is stepping up. If people don’t do what they’re supposed to, there’s no room for excuses.”
Defensive breakdowns at every level were evident during Wednesday’s game.
Pittsburgh’s pass rush struggled to make an impact against a limited Patrick Mahomes, posting a season-low 17.9% pressure rate, according to Next Gen Stats. While Mahomes relied on a quick passing game—averaging just 2.34 seconds to release the ball—the lack of pressure allowed him to dismantle the Steelers’ secondary with ease.
The team now faces a critical turning point as it searches for answers to halt this downward spiral.
