The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense played extremely well in the first week of the 2025 season, but it wasn't nearly as strong in the home opener. The Seattle Seahawks marched into the Steel City and came up with a convincing victory that included two interceptions by Aaron Rodgers. Overall, however, it wasn't the offensive unit that caused a lot of concern. The defense performed poorly for the second consecutive contest, and alarms are sounding because of Mike Tomlin's recognition as one of the better defensive-minded individuals throughout the NFL. A lot of work has to be done moving forward, or it could get really ugly.
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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.
One of the more questionable trends that fans have taken notice to is TJ Watt's inability to sack the quarterback dating back to the last few weeks of the 2024 season. Opposing offenses have seemed to find a way to make it very difficult for the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year to work his way into the backfield when it is a clear passing down.
It takes a lot for the Steelers' weekly combatant to focus on and game-plan for Watt, which is why it may seem like the defender isn't making big plays recently. However, it's not easy to control an offensive line when an edge rusher has two, or maybe three, individuals assigned to focus on him throughout any given matchup. Watt is simply being taken out of the game by opposing coaching staffs.
On the latest episode of Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, legendary signal-caller and future Hall of Famer, Ben Roethlisberger, sent a message to Pittsburgh's defense about figuring out ways to pick up Watt because of his tough assignments.
"[Watt] is doing everything humanly possible," Roethlisberger said. "TJ is doing everything he can. He's a stud. He is doing his job. We just got to get more from the other guys. Like, coach would always say, 'I need my A players playing A. I need the other guys to step up, because the A players are going to play A.' [Watt] is playing A. Where [are] the other guys?"
Despite the fact that there have been some exciting plays from the Steelers' defense, there have been many more bad moments than good through the first two games of the 2025 campaign. Watt is an incredible player who will eventually get to the quarterback, but Roethlisberger's statements make sense; until someone else is consistently beating the other team's big men up front, there is no need to allow Watt anywhere near the signal-caller.
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Steelers outside linebacker TJ Watt (90) on the playing surface as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers' defense is at its best when Watt is playing like a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, for roughly the past six games or so, opponents have taken him out of the equation. That has opened up a clear hole that is visible to all watching. Roethlisberger knows what kind of player the defender is, and it makes it even worse that he can clearly see other individuals aren't capable right now of making splash plays.
Watt got a brand new contract during the 2025 offseason, and fans may believe that it was not worth it because of his current stat-line, but it's deeper than that. It will be imperative moving forward for his teammates to cause offenses to worry a little bit more. This way, the Steelers' all-time franchise sack leader will get more one-on-one opportunities.
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Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt warms up on the playing surface at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA prior to a 2022 preseason game.
Steelers' Watt May Continue To Struggle After Key Defensive Injury
Alex Highsmith is expected to miss some time with an injury, which could make things more difficult for Watt. The two have great chemistry and feed off of one another, but the absence of Highsmith could deliver even more attention to Watt, with all due to respect to Nick Herbig. Pittsburgh needs to figure out its defensive issues sooner rather than later, and finding ways to open up Watt's avenue to the quarterback would be a great starting point.
Do you think that the Steelers' defense is failing Watt? Let us know in the comments below!
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