The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a rough stretch of the 2025 season, and the team is facing a potential three-game losing streak as it gets ready to take on the red-hot Indianapolis Colts at home in Week 9. Pittsburgh has lost its last two matchups to the Cincinnati Bengals and the Green Bay Packers, and now the group has to prepare to take on arguably the best team in the league. This season can get out of hand quickly for the Steelers, and it is important that the group is able to get back on track against one of their toughest opponents of the season.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin before a home game against the Green Bay Packers during the 2025 season.
The defense for the Steelers has caught a lot of flack for the way it has performed throughout the 2025 season, but mainly over the last two weeks. The group has been completely gashed through the air by both Cincinnati and Green Bay, which is inexcusable considering the amount of resources that have been poured into that side of the ball. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers refuses to acknowledge the defensive struggles, as he believes he and the offense could do more, which is something he talked about while speaking with the media on Wednesday.
"Got to stay the course," Rodgers said. "We lost a tough one in Cincy on the short week, and then we played a good football team and had many chances to get things going. We were up 16-7 at half, our defense was playing well. Offensively, we've done a good job I think at ending some halves with points, and I'm not sure we've scored on a first possession of the second half. When you're deferring, you're expecting to have a chance to double up so to speak. That's what changes the game, the middle eight of the game we haven't played well in the second four."
Rodgers references the "middle eight," which is often what the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half are referred to. This part of the game often determines contests as teams capitalize on scoring at the end of the first half, and then come out in the second half and get more points. However, that is where Rodgers and the offense have struggles. It has been coming out of halftime and finding points.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks at his play sheet during training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The veteran quarterback could easily throw the defense under the bus as that side of the ball has been grotesque over the last two weeks while Rodgers and the offense have kept Pittsburgh in games. He instead focused on the failures of his group, which is encouraging to see as the team tries to fix things. The offense is already much better than what fans have grown used to in recent years, but there is hope and belief from the players that it can improve even more.
The offense of the Steelers should be able to keep the team in most games, but a better defensive performance is needed moving forward. It is unacceptable for the defense to be playing the way it has been over the last couple of weeks, and Pittsburgh can be a good team if both sides of the ball can consistently show up on game days.
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.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Needs To Trust Aaron Rodgers More
There have been multiple instances where it has been fourth and short for the Steelers, and Head Coach Mike Tomlin has decided to kick a field goal. Rodgers has been visibly upset at the decision on several occasions, and he has a right to be. It is very hard to win in today's NFL by kicking field goals when the offense is given a short amount of yardage to get to the first down marker. The best teams in the league go for it, and the sooner Tomlin realizes that, the better off the team will be.
What do you think about Rodgers' comments on the offense? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
