It's early in the season. Fans don't want to feel like they need to hit the panic button yet, but when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense, it's hard not to have major concerns.
Dating back to the second half of last season, the Steelers have allowed 27.9 points per game over their previous 10 contests. This disappointing defensive streak has also come with allowing over 300 yards of offense to their opponents in every game during this span.
Somehow, the defense is only getting worse.
In the first two games of the 2025 season, the Steelers have been one of the worst defensive units in the NFL, and the data supports this claim. Pittsburgh ranks 29th in points per game allowed, yards allowed, and yards per play allowed, while finishing 27th in defensive EPA per play and 26th in defensive success rate.
#Steelers' defensive ranks entering Week 3:
— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) September 17, 2025
🟥29th in opponent PPG (31.5)
🟥29th in yards allowed (394.5)
🟥29th in yards per play (6.3)
🟥27th in opp. time of possession (33:00)
🟥27th in EPA per play (0.154)
🟥26th in def success rate (47.20%)
🟨16th PFF defensive grade (63.0)
These pitiful rankings have come while facing quarterback Justin Fields and the New York Jets offense and QB Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks offense—two teams that were expected to have some of the worst offenses in the NFL this season.
The problem isn't just with two or three players on defense; it's with everybody. T.J. Watt has yet to get to the quarterback for a sack in six straight games dating back to last season, while a once-promising Payton Wilson somehow regressed significantly in his second season.
But when everyone is playing poorly, we know that there's a more deeply-rooted issue, and Steelers fans are already pointing the finger at Mike Tomlin.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are furious with Mike Tomlin and the defensive coaching staff
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most expensive defense in the NFL, but you'd never be able to tell based on their performance early in the 2025 season. What's more likely: that everyone on defense abruptly regressed, or that the vanilla, exploitable scheme and defensive playcalling isn't cutting it?
The Steelers were getting destroyed over the middle of the field against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, and teams have found a way to expose their Cover 3 looks with deep crossers. Meanwhile, Tomlin refuses to move Keeanu Benton off the nose tackle position and play him in his more natural 3-technique role that fits his skill set.
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Perhaps most egregious is that teams can easily locate T.J. Watt and know how assignment on any given play. A lack of creativity from defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has negated Watt's impact.
It makes no sense to assume that a 25-year-old Payton Wilson suddenly became one of the worst linebackers in the NFL after the promise we saw from him as a rookie or that Joey Porter Jr. should be the worst-graded cornerback in the NFL entering Week 3.
Everyone is playing worse since the second half of the 2024 season, and Mike Tomlin deserves to be under pressure from the fanbase.