The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense gave the fan base some worry in their showing against the New York Jets in Week 1. The Steelers did walk away with a road win at MetLife Stadium, winning 34-32, but that was mostly thanks to the four touchdown passes from the arm of Aaron Rodgers. Without that performance, the Steelers likely would have had a bad Week 1 showing. The defense gave up 394 yards of total offense to the Justin Fields-led Jets, and that is a reason for concern.
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Jets' Justin Fields runs for his second touchdown while playing the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2025 season.
Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin spoke to the media about the struggling showing, but he is not worried about it. Austin explained that he saw areas that need improvement, but he emphasized that one game is not enough to cause panic. He pointed to mistakes in execution and lapses in consistency, acknowledging that the defense did not meet the standard the Steelers set for themselves. Still, his message was clear. He believes the group is capable of correcting those mistakes and showing a much sharper performance moving forward.
While the numbers against the Jets were alarming to many fans, Austin refused to let the outside noise shift his mindset. He noted that Week 1 often brings unpredictable results and said his focus is on steady growth throughout the season. Rather than dwelling on the yards and points allowed, he highlighted the importance of building momentum and trusting that the defense will respond better in the weeks ahead.
"It was not the same thing," Austin said. "It was different. I didn’t think we got knocked around. I think we missed some opportunities. I didn’t feel that way. I know how I felt coming off that field in Baltimore last year and I didn’t feel the same way. I feel good about this group and that they’ll play better and rebound moving forward."
The Steelers’ highly compensated defense looked awful in the playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
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Former Steelers All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick gets brutally stiff-armed by Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry during a tough playoff moment.
Austin made sure to emphasize that his unit’s showing against the Jets was nowhere near that level.
"We just didn’t play well in a lot of areas," Austin said. "We have to get them better calls. We have to get them where they need to be. When you looked at the film, we have to do a better job of tackling, getting off blocks, being in the right spots, giving the guys an opportunity to do that... It happened. Every now and then, you have a stinker like that. You don’t like them, but it gives us an opportunity to get back to work and get better at it."
Steelers' Defense Looking For Redemption Fast
The Steelers' defense did not do what many had expected in Week 1, but there is still a long season ahead to get things right. At the end of the 2024 season, the Steelers' defense was struggling with issues that should have been corrected earlier in the year. Now is the perfect time for Austin and Mike Tomlin to start addressing whatever went wrong defensively against the Jets.
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Steelers coaches Mike Tomlin (left), Karl Dunbar (middle) and Teryl Austin (right) stand on the sideline during a home game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
The running game could not be slowed down, and the Jets’ pass catchers were left open more than any Steelers fans liked to see. There is time, but Austin has to get this talented and highly paid unit fixed fast. Up next on the schedule is the Seattle Seahawks and their new quarterback, Sam Darnold. They will be coming to the Steel City on Sunday, and the Steelers defense will be seeking redemption.
What is your level of concern about this Teryl Austin-led Steelers' defense? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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