It was another disastrous performance by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night as they fell to the Green Bay Packers by a final score of 35-25. The biggest concerns for the Steelers came from the defense, a group that completely fell apart in the second half. Pittsburgh did not sack Packers quarterback Jordan Love once or force a turnover for the third straight game, and the unit allowed over 450 total yards of offense. Many Steelers players were taking heat for the team's lackluster performance on Sunday, but one former Steeler called out the leader of the defense.
Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen scouts the Green Bay Packers offense before the snap during Week 8 of the 2025 NFL Season.
Linebacker Patrick Queen, and nearly everyone else on the Steelers' defense, had a rough night trying to stop the Packers’ high-flying offense. Former Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman with the Steelers, Trai Essex, took to X during the Steelers' second-half collapse and called out Queen for his play against Green Bay.
"I don’t know what’s going on with Queen but he is playing a soft brand of football tonight," Essex said.
It wasn’t just Queen, however. The whole defense struggled to contain Green Bay’s offense, which has been one of the top units in the NFL so far in 2025. Miscommunications in coverage were apparent all night, and too many players seemed out of position at critical moments. Often times when communication appears to be an issue, that falls on the shoulders of the green dot-wearing linebacker which, in the Steelers' case, is Queen.
Aside from the communication aspect, Queen just simply didn't play physical football on Sunday. Fans have seen Queen lower the shoulder and bring the boom, the type of hits that set the tone and fire up the defense and energize the crowd. Sunday, there was none of that. The Packers were able to move the ball downfield with ease, and Queen and co. never seemed to have an answer.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Patrick Queen makes a tackle against the Green Bay packers in 2025.
Queen had been playing some of his best football in recent weeks. After an up-and-down 2024 season, he had started 2025 strong, showing flashes of the player the Steelers had hoped he would be, but against Green Bay, all of that progress seemed to disappear. Queen finished the night with just three total tackles, only one of which was solo, and he had virtually no impact on positive moments.
The Steelers had invested heavily in Queen, signing him to a three-year deal worth $41 million during the 2024 offseason. A former All-Pro with the Baltimore Ravens, Queen was widely regarded as one of the league’s top linebackers. Expectations were sky-high when he joined Pittsburgh, and fans and coaches were counting on him to be a vocal and physical leader both on and off the field.
Some might chalk up one poor performance to a rough night, but the issues ran deeper than just one player. Queen, as the centerpiece of the defense, has to elevate those around him, keep everyone aligned, and play the kind of football that makes opponents hesitate. When he doesn’t, the whole unit suffers. The Steelers’ struggles against the Packers highlighted that reality more than ever.
Karl Roster / Pittsburgh Steelers
Patrick Queen and Joey Porter on the field during the Steelers 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 of the 2025 NFL Season.
Steelers Defense To Face Tall Task In Week 9
Queen and the rest of the defense will have to regroup quickly. The Steelers will welcome the Indianapolis Colts to town next Sunday, and if the defense plays like it did in the second half against Green Bay, it'll be an ugly afternoon. The Colts have the best record in the AFC at 7-1, and they currently lead the entire NFL in points and yards, behind possible MVP candidates Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones.
Will the Steelers defense figure it out? Or are they looking at a potential third consecutive loss? Let us know in the comments!
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