The Steelers defense simply could not make enough 'big plays' to help secure victory
Despite an INT by Mykal Walker, who nabbed a tipped ball on a pass break-up by Elandon Roberts, and despite generating two sacks, the Steelers defense just couldn't hold the Patriots offense to FGs. Instead, the defense gave twenty-one points, all in the first half mind you, but it was simply too much for the offense to overcome.
For the entire 2023 season, the defense has carried the offense. I don't think there's any other way to put it. Again, despite giving up twenty-one points, the defense got the necessary stops to give the ball back to the offense.
Unfortunately for the defense, there was only one 'splash play', the aforementioned INT, that did not result in any points whatsoever. That's not on the defense, but for an offense that is struggling, Walker had to get into the endzone on that INT.
Had Walker gotten into the endzone on that INT, I think the outcome of the game would have gone in our favor, but there's no point in doing the 'woulda, shoulda, coulda'. It is what it is and what it is another conference loss.
Let's see what else we learned from the brutal loss to the Patriots.