4 problems Steelers need to fix before Week 5 game against Cowboys

The Steelers faced their first L of the season in a hard-fought battle against the Colts this past weekend. Despite a valiant effort led by Justin Fields, the Pittsburgh team fell just short of a remarkable comeback to snatch a W.

There are numerous critical areas that the team must address before their highly anticipated Sunday night showdown against the Cowboys at Acrisure Stadium.

Defense on 3rd down fails miserably

The Steelers loss to the Colts revealed a concerning weakness in their defense. Throughout the game, the defense struggled to halt the Colts’ third-down conversions, allowing over a 50% success rate per ESPN stats. 

Joe Flacco capitalized on third and long situations, exploiting gaps in the defense. This performance underscores the urgent need for defensive adjustments to ensure the team's success in future games. It is simply not up to the usual Mike T standard whatsoever. Looking forward, the defense will face an even tougher opponent in Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. 

Next man up needs to rise to the occasion

As if the injuries could not possibly stack up anymore, the Steelers found themselves in the “next man up” mode once again sooner than anticipated this season. RG James Daniels sustained an injury in the game this past weekend and will most likely be out indefinitely with an Achilles tear. 

The O-line is facing ongoing injuries, which are an unfortunate part of the game. Coach Tomlin is confident that the next man up will step in and rise to the occasion. The connections between the line and their QB can ultimately determine how successful the offense can perform. Players like Spencer Anderson and Mason McCormick will need to regroup swiftly to keep the line efficient. Steelers Nation can expect to see this resilience on display once again. 

Linebackers and secondary miscues

The communication breakdowns between linebacker Patrick Queen and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. presented challenges for the team. Adding insult to injury were missed opportunities, as JPJ nearly recorded two INT’s during two critical drives in the game. The visible frustrations on the field and the sideline contributed to the team’s lack of camaraderie and consistency. The once "lights out" defense was nowhere to be found against the Colts.

In the middle of the field, QB Joe Flacco had a great opportunity to outplay the linebackers. These communication issues must be resolved before the Steelers’ defense faces WR CeeDee Lamb and TE Jake Ferguson at Acrisure Stadium. 

Slow starts on offense continue

The Steelers’ offense put up a dismal 3 points at the half, highlighting their ongoing struggle to start games with momentum. This persistent issue dates back to last season, and fans are increasingly pointing fingers at the coaching staff.

The play-calling has been questionable at times, especially when the failure to establish a run-game is glaringly obvious for fans to critique. The constant changes on the O-line are frustrating, but something needs to change so that the team can feel confident on offense, aside from relying solely on the consistent performances of George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and now Calvin Austin III. 

QB Justin Fields possesses the poise and confidence to start strong, but the play calling and execution to create space for him to excel is what is ultimately holding back this offense from competing for four quarters. It is early in the season, but addressing this constant issue of starting slow on offense should be a top priority for head coach Mike T at this point in time. Steelers Nation, remain calm and look forward to a potential surge of energy for the Pittsburgh team in Week 5. Here we go.