The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off their first loss of the 2024 season after showing up flat against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. Mike Tomlin's team botched a chance to begin the season with a 4-0 record as most of the team got off to a sluggish start in their fourth game.
Eventually, the Steelers woke up and started playing football. Quarterback Justin Fields nearly mounted a comeback, but Pittsburgh ultimately fell short in the 24-27 road loss.
The first two quarters of this game were a disaster, and several Steelers had the worst performances of their career. Here are the players who are most to blame for Pittsburgh's Week 4 loss.
CB Joey Porter Jr.
We are used to seeing sticky 'man' coverage from Joey Porter Jr., but the second-year cornerback had a disastrous outing against the Colts. This began with the very first play of the game in which quarterback Anthony Richardson dropped the ball over Porter's outstretched hand for a 42-yard gain.
Porter's struggles continued, even when Joe Flacco was forced to enter the game at quarterback for the Colts. The Steelers' top cornerback was routinely beaten on slant patterns and was credited with giving up five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown while being tagged with a pass interference penalty.
This was easily the worst game Porter Jr. has played as a Steeler in his first two seasons with the team. He needs to wipe this one from his memory and bounce back in Week 5.
LB Patrick Queen
The Steelers thought they were getting a Pro Bowl linebacker when they handed Patrick Queen a lucrative contract during the 2024 free agency period. Sadly, they haven't gotten anything close to their money's worth out of the underwhelming linebacker.
Missed tackles have been a theme for Queen over the first month of the season. The 25-year-old linebacker added two more missed tackles to the list against the Colts in Week 4. Additionally, Queen took questionable angles chasing down the ball carrier and was beaten in coverage. This was a discouraging game for Pittsburgh's starting linebacker.
EDGE Nick Herbig
Steelers fans wondered how Nick Herbig would look in his first game in a full-time role. Though he has been impressive nearly every time he saw the field over his first two seasons, Herbig was disappointing in his first NFL start.
The 2023 fourth-round pick was swallowed up at times when trying to defend the run and he allowed running back Jonathan Taylor to bounce explosive plays off left tackle. Herbig also missed a tackle and allowed a 25-yard reception on just four coverage snaps.
This performance doesn't have us worried, but it was the worst game of Herbig's young career. It's only one game, but with Alex Highsmith out, Herbig hasn't proved he can have a greater impact in a full-time role on defense.
OG Spencer Anderson
Spencer Anderson has been asked to do a lot early in his second season. The 2023 seventh-round draft choice started at left guard early in the season for the injured Isaac Seumalo before being asked to jump in at right guard when James Daniels went down with a season-ending Achilles injury.
Anderson is doing whatever the team asks of him... just not at a very high level. In 64 snaps at right guard in Week 4 against the Colts, Anderson gave up a sack and a pressure while also recording a penalty. He didn't anchor well in pass protection and the caving pocket forced QB Justin Fields to escape at times.