Embarrassing Recollection From Future Hall Of Famer Comes Out About The Steelers' Defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had the same issues plaguing the team for the last several seasons. One of those was an inefficient offense that struggled to remain consistent, but that problem has seemingly been fixed in 2025 with new veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers being under center. Defensively, one of the largest issues has been stopping the run. This was an issue late in the 2024 season, and it played a large part in Pittsburgh losing its last four games of the regular season and getting embarrassed in the Wild Card Round by the Baltimore Ravens.

The Steelers' defense has been said to be predictable, and that the franchise struggles to mix things up on that side of the football. This has been a common occurrence from veteran players in the league, and plenty of former players have said this after they have decided to retire. This fact is worrisome, especially due to the amount of talent Pittsburgh has had over the years. It calls into question whether or not the coaching staff is putting players in position to succeed, and another story has come out to back that up.

Zack Martin, a former offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys, appeared on Pardon My Take on Friday, and he was asked if he ever had a game where the team was able to call the same run play over and over and find success.

"We did it in Pittsburgh," Martin said. "Was that last year? The year with the delay game where it was super late, I think it may have been last year. But late in the game, I think we called the same one like four or five times in a row. The defense is like yelling, 'It's coming right here it's the same play.' Good luck, yeah."

Martin is referring to a 2024 matchup between the Steelers and the Cowboys, and it was a Sunday Night Football game that had some weather delays and didn't end till much later than usual. Dallas won the game by a score of 20-17 as Dak Prescott was able to throw a touchdown with about 20 seconds remaining to win the game.

The game between the Steelers and Cowboys felt a little off due to the weather delays, but that is no excuse for this story from Martin. Justin Fields led Pittsburgh down the field to take a four-point lead with just over five minutes remaining, and the Cowboys were then able to go on a 15-play, 70-yard drive to score the game-winning touchdown. The Cowboys ran the ball eight times on the drive for a total of 25 yards, which isn't extremely efficient, but the offense got some good chunks on those plays to keep the chains moving.

The Cowboys being able to run the same play on the ground and find success is ultimately what lost Pittsburgh the game. It kept the drive alive while also milking the clock to limit the opportunities for the Pittsburgh offense after Dallas was able to take the lead with under a minute remaining. It feels like the same thing has been happening to Pittsburgh's run defense in 2025, especially against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. Scheme is one thing, but many fans argue that the team is continuing to be physically outplayed as well. 

Steelers' Run Defense Needs To Improve Dramatically Ahead Of Matchup With Packers

Pittsburgh has a highly anticipated matchup in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers is squaring off against his former team, and the Steelers need to get back in the win column after a rough loss in Week 7. Green Bay is sixth in the NFL when it comes to rushing attempts, and they have one of the best backs in the league in Josh Jacobs. 

It will be a crucial thing to watch in the contest, as it could be another long night for the defense if it can't find a way to contain the running game from the Packers.

What do you think about this story from Martin? Let us know in the comments below!

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