The mantra “defense wins championships” means more for the Pittsburgh Steelers than almost any other team.
In a city where toughness is woven into the culture and football is more than just a Sunday pastime, the Steelers have long been the embodiment of grit, endurance, and hard-nosed football. But in their Week 2, 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, that identity vanished—and nowhere was it more evident than in the linebacking corps.
This wasn’t just another early-season hiccup. This was a gut-check—and the Steelers flinched.
For years, Mike Tomlin’s squads have been defined by discipline and defensive intensity. That signature bite was missing at Acrisure Stadium, and the home opener felt more like a wake-up call than a celebration. Teryl Austin’s defense looked flat-out unprepared and outmuscled, and the film confirms it.
A particularly damning clip has circulated on social media since Sunday, showing linebackers Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen both getting steamrolled—simultaneously—by Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts.
Clearing the lane 💪@robbie_ouzts | @Seahawks pic.twitter.com/qSw1af79XK
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2025
The visual was jarring. A defensive player's nightmare, the collision paved the way for a 20-yard burst by Kenneth Walker III, one of many moments where Seattle imposed its will.
It wasn’t a fluke. It was the theme of the day.
Walker and his offensive line dominated the trenches, turning the Steelers’ proud run defense into a sieve. For the second straight week, Pittsburgh looked vulnerable against the ground game. And this time, it happened in front of their own fans, who had every reason to expect a bounce-back performance. Instead, what they saw left them shaking their heads.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive issues can be solved with better leadership from Patrick Queen
The question everyone’s asking: why are the Steelers struggling so badly against the run?
The answer is staring us in the face. It begins—and maybe ends—with the linebackers.
Patrick Queen was brought in from Baltimore to be a game-changer. A sideline-to-sideline tackler with speed and attitude. But through two weeks, he hasn’t delivered. In fact, he’s looked like a liability in the middle of a unit that desperately needs leadership. The 2024 season was already underwhelming for Queen, and 2025 has started even worse.
READ MORE: Mike Tomlin’s frustrated postgame message puts Steelers on notice
Queen recorded six tackles in Sunday's game, tying with Jack Sawyer and Jalen Ramsey. We need more production from him. He’s on the hot seat, and he knows it.
Payton Wilson, the second-year player, has shown flashes, but he’s also been caught out of position and overpowered in key moments. Sunday's lowlight—getting pancaked by a fullback—is the kind of play that sticks with a young linebacker. Still, he performed better than Queen, leading the team with 10 total tackles.
Fans in the Steel City are restless, and rightfully so. The defensive standard in Pittsburgh isn’t just high—it’s sacred. And what they witnessed in Week 2 was not championship football. It wasn’t even Pittsburgh football.
The defense goes as the linebackers go. That’s always been true here. If Queen can’t find his footing fast, maybe it's time to shuffle the lineup.
Week 3 can't come soon enough—and it better come with answers.