Is it time to hit the panic button on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense?

The Steelers’ defense has faltered in back-to-back losses, raising questions about their identity and playoff readiness.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have dropped to 10-5 following two consecutive losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens in Weeks 15 and 16, respectively.

While both of these teams boasted high-powered offenses, the Steelers’ defense has recently showcased a loss of identity. The Lamar Jackson-led Ravens offense produced over 400 yards in the Steelers’ loss, and the Eagles accomplished the same the previous week.

Back in November, the Steelers held the Ravens to 16 total points compared to the 34-17 blowout loss in Week 16. What truly changed—and should fans begin to panic?

It is understandable that exhaustion has set in for the Black and Gold, as the team is currently in the midst of playing three games against Super Bowl contenders in just a 10-day span.

Injuries are also a likely cause, with the team missing CB Joey Porter Jr., CB Donte Jackson, DT Larry Ogunjobi, and SS DeShon Elliott. Their absences impact all facets of the defensive side of the ball.

With the Steelers’ playoff spot clinched, keeping the team healthy should be the primary concern rather than forcing players who are less than 100% to play injured.

Don’t worry, Steelers fans—this defense will reign supreme once again!

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick with somber response to his first INT of the season

Minkah Fitzpatrick doesn’t care about what he did right when the team loses.

Few players on the Pittsburgh Steelers take losses harder than safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. When Fitzpatrick talked to the media after Saturday’s 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Fitzpatrick finally got his first interception of the season.

But when Fitzpatrick was asked about it, he wasn’t interested in moral victories or celebrating an individual accomplishment.

“Doesn’t matter,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick’s interception had the chance to be a real turning point for the Steelers and swing momentum back to Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, just after the All-Pro safety got the ball back for the Steelers, he had to watch Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey take a Russell Wilson pass and run it back for a touchdown.

The Steelers don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves as they now come back home to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day in a game that could have huge playoff implications.

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Steelers’ defense makes history for all the wrong reasons vs Ravens

Derrick Henry’s 162-yard rushing performance broke records, marking the most yards by a Ravens RB against the Steelers defense.

While the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers defense has enjoyed tremendous success throughout the season, Week 16’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens will be forever etched in history—at the expense of the Black and Gold.

Heading into the contest, the Pittsburgh Steelers boasted one of the NFL’s best run defenses, but Ravens RB Derrick Henry more than put them to the test—rushing for 162 yards on 24 attempts.

Henry’s Week 16 performance against the Steel City was not only dominant but also historic, as no other Ravens player had ever rushed for more yards against any Steelers defense.

To play devil’s advocate, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced one of the NFL’s greatest running backs of all-time in Henry—who is in the midst of his greatest season to date—while also missing one of the league’s best run defenders, DeShon Elliott, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

It is not only understandable why Henry set the Ravens’ rushing record against the Steelers, but it is also a valuable lesson during the regular season—allowing the defense to hone their craft ahead of a potential deep playoff run.

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Russell Wilson regrets ‘unacceptable’ red zone fumble vs Ravens

Russell Wilson takes full responsibility for the costly fumble against the Ravens and explained his decision not to slide during the play.

Fans of the Black and Gold are understandably disappointed with the Pittsburgh Steelers Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, as the team had momentum early in the contest.  However, Steelers QB Russell Wilson’s fumble in the red zone marked the beginning of the end for the team’s hopes to clinch the division.

Speaking to reporters in the postgame press conference, Wilson’s costly fumble quickly became a focal point for the media. Asked to walk everyone through his decision not to slide, Wilson did not mince words about his game-changing mistake:

“I just thought we had a chance to go in the end zone. I tried to cut back and just got hit. I think right before I hit the ground, the ball came out. It’s unacceptable. It can’t happen.”

Wilson went on to explain his reasoning for the play, clarifying that his cut was made in hopes of setting up a block.

Wilson will aim to rebound quickly, as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day—just four days after their Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

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Steelers’ turnovers and injuries spell disaster in Week 16 loss to Ravens

Injuries and turnovers doomed the Steelers in Week 16, as the Ravens denied them the AFC North title with a 34-17 victory.

Hearts have shattered all throughout the Steel City. With the Pittsburgh Steelers on the cusp of clinching the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens prevented the Black and Gold from securing the divisional title in Week 16.

The Ravens soundly defeated the Steelers 34-17, with injuries and turnovers playing a huge role throughout the Week 16 contest.

Heading into the matchup, the Pittsburgh Steelers were down several key starters on both sides of the ball: WR George Pickens, SS DeShon Elliott, DT Larry Ogunjobi, and CB Donte Jackson. Black and Gold injuries continued to pile up as the team lost starting CB Joey Porter Jr. and ST/WR Ben Skowronek during the game.

As if this wasn’t bad enough, Russell Wilson’s fumble in the red zone—when he could have easily slid to avoid the big hit—and his costly pick-six all but handed the Ravens the Week 16 victory and potentially the division.

There is little time to correct their mistakes, however, as the Pittsburgh Steelers must now turn their attention to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day in Week 17.

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Tomlin owns Steelers inability to stop the run vs Ravens

The Steelers couldn’t slow down Derrick Henry and that was the difference in the game.

Of all the things that went wrong for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens, none stood out as much as the team’s inability to slow down the Ravens run game.

Baltimore running back Derrick Henry ran roughshod over the Steelers’ defense to the tune of 162 yards on 24 carries. The image of Henry dragging Pittsburgh defenders will dance in our heads all the way until Christmas like sugar plums.

After the game, head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledges the Steelers’ shortcomings in run defense in the most Tomlin way possible.

“We didn’t control the run game,” Tomlin said. “We never did.”

In fairness, the Steelers were minus defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, safety DeShon Elliott and cornerbacks Donte Jackson and Joey Porter Jr. Losing four of 11 starters makes it tough to stop any NFL-caliber offense, much less all the weapons the Ravens bring to the table.

There’s no time for the Steelers to sit around and ponder what went wrong. Pittsburgh is working on a short week and have to prepare to take on the Kansas City Chiefs and their 13-1 record on Christmas day in Pittsburgh.

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Hobbled Steelers squad gets blown out in Baltimore

Pittsburgh couldn’t keep up with the Ravens on Saturday and the Ravens clinch a spot in the playoffs.

Winning in Baltimore was going to be a longshot for the Pittsburgh Steelers but when even more injuries started popping up early in the game, you knew it was over against the Ravens. Pittsburgh fell to 10-5 and into a tie in the AFC North after falling to Baltimore 34-17 on Saturday.

The story for the Steelers was the defense. Pittsburgh went into the game minus three starters and after losing cornerback Joey Porter Jr. just didn’t have enough bodies to keep up with the Ravens offense. Baltimore rose running back Derrick Henry and some efficient passing by quarterback Lamar Jackson to a huge performance. Henry finished with 162 rushing yards and was unstoppable for a banged up Steelers defense.

Pittsburgh’s offense couldn’t get out of its own way and that started with quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson was responsible for two huge turnovers and wasn’t sharp as he went back to holding onto the football too long and taking three sacks.

The Steelers have now lost two in a row and have not time to worry about it. They have clinched a spot in the playoffs and must now turn around and play the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas while the Ravens will go against the Houston Texans.

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Minkah Fitzpatrick broke his ‘turnover curse’ in Week 16 vs Ravens

Minkah Fitzpatrick snagged his first interception of the season in Week 16, a bright spot in the Steelers’ tough loss to the Ravens.

Don’t call it a comeback! Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson gifted Pittsburgh Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick his first interception of the season in the AFC North divisional showdown in Week 16.

Fitzpatrick had previously addressed his lack of splash plays in 2024, attributing it to a lack of opportunities rather than skill issues this season.

With the Baltimore Ravens on the verge of scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Fitzpatrick positioned himself perfectly for an interception in the red zone.

Jackson’s intended pass was seemingly aimed at WR Rashod Bateman, who had scored a touchdown earlier in the contest, but pressure from Steelers LB Patrick Queen may have forced the Ravens’ QB to miss his mark.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to capitalize on Fitzpatrick’s turnover, as Steelers QB Russell Wilson threw a pick-six to Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey shortly afterward.

Ultimately, despite the disappointment surrounding the Week 16 contest for the Black and Gold, Fitzpatrick’s return to form against the Ravens should excite fans moving forward.

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Tom Brady has hilarious description of Russell Wilson’s mobility

Tom Brady praised Russell Wilson’s mobility during the Steelers-Ravens game, delivering a hilarious take on the veteran quarterback’s speed.

Fans of the Black and Gold were loving what they saw out of QB Russell Wilson’s athleticism in the first half of the Week 16 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.  Apparently, so did the seven-time Super Bowl winner turn Fox analyst, Tom Brady.

Viewers were in awe of one particular play during the first quarter, that saw Wilson roll out to the right in order to evade two Ravens defenders and complete a long 3rd and 8 to WR Ben Skowronek.

Brady could no longer contain his excitement after one more impressively athletic display from Wilson, that saw him call his own number as a rushing lane seemingly opened up for the Steelers quarterback.

“He looks spry.” Brady chuckled.  “For a guy that isn’t as fresh as lettuce as he used to be, he looks really good today.”

Brady understands exactly what it takes to be a Super Bowl champion, and his words should inspire confidence behind Wilson’s signal calling and athleticism moving forward.

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Steelers special teams ace questionable to return with injury

Ben Skowronek is questionable to return with a hip injury.

With all of the injuries the Pittsburgh Steelers are dealing with this week, the last thing they needed are any more in-game against the Baltimore Ravens. But unfortunately, that’s exactly what is already happening.

Starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is now questionable to return with an ankle injury and now special teams ace Ben Skowronek is questionable to return with an ankle injury. This according to the television broadcast.

Skworonek was seeing more snaps on offense as a wide receiver with the injury to starting wide receiver George Pickens. We saw Skowronek run to the lock room under his own power and didn’t show much discomfort. We are hopeful this is a good sign he will be able to return. Skowronek is also an excellent blocker at receiver and helps fuel the run game.

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