The Pittsburgh Steelers took on the New York Jets in the 2025 season opener. The game did not go as many fans expected, although Pittsburgh still escaped with a win. The Steelers won the game by a score of 34-32 in what wound up being a shootout. This is not what many predicted for the contest as both teams have some of the best defenses in the NFL, but scoring points seemed easy during the Week 1 matchup. Pittsburgh's defense was disappointing, and fans are going to be paying close attention to the unit in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers take pride in their defense and the group is the highest paid unit in the league for the fourth consecutive season. That is exactly why some members of the fan base are panicking about the unit. The Jets' offense also hasn't necessarily been very efficient in recent years, which makes the results from the game on Sunday even more concerning.
Safety Juan Thornhill had high hopes for the defense, and those obviously were not met in Week 1. He spoke to the media on Wednesday and clarified that the group is not panicking quite yet.
Juan Thornhill said no one on the defense is "panicking" about Week 1: "I know we threw some stuff out there early in camp, talking about how this defense can be one of the best. But it still can. It's week one."
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) September 10, 2025
Thornhill stated before the season began that he thought Pittsburgh's defense could be the best in the history of the league. They were not that on Sunday against New York, and some changes need to be made. Pittsburgh was awful against the run and the pass, and there seemed to be plenty of weakness within the group as it also failed to force a turnover.
New York Jets
Jets' Justin Fields runs for his second touchdown while playing the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2025 season.
Pittsburgh went into the 2025 offseason with an emphasis in finding a way to stop the run. That did not happen on Sunday as the group gave up nearly 200 yards on the ground and allowed Justin Fields to have one of his best games of his career when it came to throwing the football. Thornhill was critical of his defense, and plenty of other players spoke out after the game about the poor performance. It is unclear if the scheme and game plan were poor, or if the players just simply didn't execute. The proper changes need to be made over the next week before the home opener against the Seahawks, or else it might be time to worry in Pittsburgh.
Steelers Awaiting Key Defensive Piece
As mentioned, Pittsburgh's defense did not play well against the Jets, but the group was a little banged up. DeShon Elliott left in the first half of the game with a knee injury and he is expected to miss a game or two. Pittsburgh also lost Joey Porter Jr. in the second half of the game. The secondary was clearly not at full strength, which means the play was not as good as it could have been.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (99) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
In addition to the injuries in the secondary, the Steelers were also without their first-round pick in Derrick Harmon. Harmon sprained his MCL during the preseason and will miss some time. The defense missed his presence when it came to stopping the run. He can pressure the quarterback and eat up space in the running lanes, and once he returns, the defense should be able to perform much better. The unit will likely improve over the next couple of weeks, and if it doesn't, it may be time to panic.
What do you think about Thornhill's remarks? Let us know in the comments below!
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