It’s hard to sugarcoat it — being a Pittsburgh Steelers fan isn’t for the weak.
Especially after witnessing an embarrassing Week 7 loss on Thursday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals. It wasn’t just a loss; it was a public unraveling in front of millions. The mistakes, the lack of discipline, and the absence of energy were on full display, from the stars down to the role players.
And that includes defensive veteran Jalen Ramsey.
Let’s be honest — Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro and one of the league’s most confident voices, did not have a good outing. In fact, it might have been one of his toughest games in years.
The 40-year-old Joe Flacco looked like his younger Ravens self, carving up the Steelers’ secondary with surgical precision. But it was Ja’Marr Chase who did the most damage, turning Ramsey’s night into a highlight reel for the wrong reasons.
Chase’s 16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown told the story of domination.
Ramsey was brought to Pittsburgh for moments like these — to lock down elite wideouts and bring a veteran presence to a young, talented defense. But instead of setting the tone, he looked a step slow and visibly frustrated as the game wore on. His irritation led to costly mistakes, including penalties that extended drives and fueled Cincinnati’s momentum.
It was the kind of performance that makes even the most loyal Steelers fans bury their faces in their Terrible Towels.
After the game, Ramsey faced the media and took slight accountability. “We have to play better, starting with myself when the opportunity presents itself,” Ramsey admitted. “That’s part of the game.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers need Jalen Ramsey to fully accept his leadership role on the defense
It was a good first step — a veteran acknowledging that he didn’t play to his standard. But just as the words offered a glimpse of leadership, his follow-up statement took the air out of the room.
“When you have receivers that are superstars in the league, you know that they get away with [expletive] like that,” Ramsey continued. “The next play you got to play the game, you got to execute when you get the opportunity to.”
In one breath, Ramsey held himself accountable; in the next, he hinted that the referees gave Chase an advantage. For a player of his experience, that’s not the kind of message Pittsburgh needed to hear after such a disappointing showing.
Accountability can’t come with an asterisk.
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I respect Ramsey for facing the questions head-on — that’s never easy, especially after a game like that. But the Steelers can’t afford partial ownership of their failures. This wasn’t just a bad night for Ramsey; it was a collective collapse that exposed deeper issues.
The pass rush failed to pressure Flacco, the coverage broke down repeatedly, and the communication looked off from the first quarter onward.
If the Steelers want to reclaim their identity, the self-reflection must go beyond excuses. They need to evaluate everything — from Teryl Austin’s defensive scheme to how their veterans lead by example. This was an easy game to win on paper, yet it slipped away because of fundamentals, focus, and discipline.
Ramsey’s willingness to speak up is a start. But true accountability means owning every mistake — not explaining it away. If Pittsburgh doesn’t grasp that lesson soon, the AFC North crown will belong to someone else.