Steelers' Secondary Still Has 1 Big Question To Answer Ahead Of Battle With Patriots

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 20-13, despite the opponent starting their third-string quarterback, Cooper Rush. With Michael Penix Jr.'s knee injury and Tua Tagovailoa's oblique setback, the Falcons had to roll with Rush. Pittsburgh capitalized, allowing just 13 points and 238 total yards. Now they prepare to face Drake Maye and the New England Patriots, a much tougher matchup for the group. 

The defense was stout against Atlanta's third-string quarterback and did a good job holding Bijan Robinson in check. The Falcons' offense was very one-dimensional, force-feeding Robinson the ball on the ground and with screens. The secondary was excellent on paper, keeping Kyle Pitts off the stat sheet and allowing only two catches to Drake London, who had 919 yards and seven touchdowns in just 12 games in 2025. 

The Falcons' top targets were neutralized in the contest and had no impact. Whether that is from the Steelers' secondary or the poor play at signal-caller is to be determined. While the coverages looked good and the defense looked fundamentally sound, a team insider still questions whether the back end of the Steelers' defense is legit or just benefiting from poor QB play. 

Mark Kaboly appeared on his show, Kaboly + Mack, where he voiced concerns about the secondary. Even though Jamel Dean and Asante Samuel Jr. had great games, they weren't necessarily tested in any real manner. With the upcoming matchup against the Patriots, Steeler Nation will get a much better idea of how the defensive backs compare to the rest of the NFL. 

"The only difference now is, we don't really know about the secondary," Kaboly stated. "I mean, Dean and Samuel played great, whatever; they weren't tested very much at all. Could that be where this thing falls apart if Joey Porter's not out? Because Drake Maye's obviously going to provide something a little more dynamic than Cooper Rush."

The secondary held strong without its best piece, Joey Porter Jr., who was inactive. Whether Porter plays Week 2 is still up in the air, but Pittsburgh undoubtedly needs its young star in the game. The Patriots will be without their best wide receiver, AJ Brown, due to an ankle injury, but still boast a solid wide receiver corps and a dynamic passing attack that will be miles ahead of what Atlanta threw at them. 

Dean and Samuel also come with their uncertainties, as both men have major red flags that could cost the team. Dean is 29, has had injury problems in the past, and wasn't re-signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He turns 30 this season, an age when cornerbacks start to drop off. Samuel underwent spinal fusion surgery in 2025 and saw limited action later in the year. His limited recent NFL action could spell trouble down the road, as he hasn't been a consistent starter since 2024, when he appeared in four games. 

Both men have plenty of NFL experience and shined against the Falcons, but they must bring that same level of play to New England and prove they are a legit duo if Porter doesn't play. 

Steelers' Secondary Could Have Other Holes 

The cornerbacks weren't the only ones who weren't really tested; the safeties didn't see much of a challenge. Jaquan Brisker had an interception and was a force against the run, but with Atlanta's run-heavy, predictable approach, the safeties may have had a skewed performance too. Rayshawn Jenkins had a tough game and didn't tackle well. Safety was already a huge question mark for Pittsburgh going into the season, and they will find out in Week 2 if that is still the case. 

DeShon Elliott is still on IR and isn't eligible to return until Week 5, when he will pair with Brisker. Elliott will likely return to his strong safety spot while Brisker roams the middle at free safety. Until Elliott's return, safety may still be a hole on the Steelers' defense that won't have an answer until Week 5. 

#SteelerNation