The Pittsburgh Steelers fell 31-17 to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in the home opener. Steelers fans who were excited for a fresh start in the Steel City were instead handed an ugly loss, leaving Pittsburgh at 1-1 on the 2025 season. The biggest disappointment once again was the highly-compensated Steelers defense, which allowed the Sam Darnold-led Seahawks to move the ball at will. Seattle racked up 395 yards of total offense, exposing issues in coverage, tackling, and overall execution. For a unit that carries both talent and expectations, the performance was nothing short of frustrating.
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Steelers superstar pass rusher TJ Watt talks with longtime defensive leader Cam Heyward during training camp.
The loss highlighted a growing concern for the Steelers: their inability to put together a complete game defensively. Despite having playmakers at all three levels, the defense lacked the intensity and sharpness that typically defines a Mike Tomlin team.
The Seahawks ran with balance, finding success both on the ground and through the air, and Darnold looked far too comfortable most of the game. While the offense struggled to keep pace, the defense’s inability to get key stops ultimately doomed Pittsburgh’s chances of making a comeback.
After the game, Steelers star pass rusher TJ Watt delivered a strongly worded message to his teammates in his postgame press conference. While he did not single anyone out, Watt made it clear that the defensive standard in Pittsburgh is much higher than what they showed in Week 2.
"I don’t know, man, we are going to have to look at it and break it down," Watt told the Pittsburgh media following the 31-17 Week 2 loss to the Seahawks. "Clearly, it’s the same issues from last week, and in the NFL, you don’t have time to go back after each and every game. You need to make the adjustments before they happen, and if they happen in the game before they continue to snowball like they did today and like they did last week."
His comments reflected the urgency of a leader who understands the stakes early in the season. The defense is supposed to be the backbone of the team, and if they continue to falter, the Steelers’ aspirations in a loaded AFC could be in serious jeopardy.
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Steelers' Head Coach Mike Tomlin observes practice during 2025 training camp while star pass rusher TJ Watt runs drills.
Watt’s message was a challenge, not just to his teammates, but to the entire locker room to respond quickly. Steelers fans will love to hear what Watt said after the game, as it shows his leadership has grown, but the way this defense played is quickly becoming a concern.
"We are way too talented and we have way too good of schemes to allow this to keep happening week after week," Watt said.
Steelers' Defense Will Continue To Seek Redemption After Rough Week 2 Showing
The Steelers defense, despite all the talent and money invested in it, will need to respond quickly with Week 3 right around the corner. Pittsburgh travels to New England on Sunday for a road matchup against the Patriots, and the pressure is now on this unit to prove that Week 1 and Week 2 was just a stumble.
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Steelers' Teryl Austin speaks to the media ahead of Week 14' matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
A third straight flat performance would raise even more questions about whether this group is living up to expectations. The standard in Pittsburgh has always been defense first, and now it’s up to this highly paid unit to bounce back and deliver when it matters. All eyes are on Tomlin and Teryl Austin as they try to fix the issues quickly.
On a scale of 1-10, what is your level of concern about this Steelers' defense after watching them let Seattle put up 395 yards of offense on them Sunday? 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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