The Pittsburgh Steelers were once viewed as one of the best defenses in the entire NFL, a team that struck fear into opponents with their relentless play. However, after three straight brutal losses, the tides have turned for the worse in Pittsburgh. The team’s once-dominant defense has been exposed, and the hope of turning things around is quickly fading as the Steelers continue to struggle.
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Steelers' Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts celebrate after a big play against the Colts during the 2024 season.
In the wake of these losses, key members of the defense have made strong statements, refusing to let the issues slide. Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen has been particularly vocal, calling out his teammates for not doing their jobs. Queen, known for his intensity and leadership, has been unafraid to speak his mind, pushing for accountability across the board as the defense falters.
After the loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Queen, facing off against his former team, didn't hold back. He called out the defensive lapses that were allowing big plays and missed opportunities. Following the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, Queen continued to express his frustration, making it clear that the defense's lack of execution was unacceptable and needed to be addressed immediately.
"Can’t explain it, it’s happening," Queen said while speaking with Steelers insider Mark Kaboly. "We keep talking about it. Nobody is doing a thing about it. If nobody does anything about what they are supposed to be doing then we don't have any room for it. I don't know if we have to keep saying it. We have said it the last two or three weeks. It is at a point where you realize it and go out there and play fast and play physical and do your job."
Queen was careful not to single out any specific players for not doing their jobs, but it’s clear that someone on the defense is missing assignments, which is causing significant issues both internally and externally.
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Steelers' Patrick Queen and Donte Jackson make a tackle against the Chiefs in Week 17 of the 2024 season.
Queen's frustration was especially evident when discussing Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s early touchdown after coming out of the flat. This play highlighted the defensive lapses that have been plaguing the team and contributing to their recent struggles.
"We preached it all week," Queen said. "We knew they would put one in the backfield. We had a check for it. We got to the check, and we just didn’t do our job. It comes down to doing your job."
Steelers' Patrick Queen Has The Solution For Fixing This Defense
Queen was particularly upset because the defense had been drilled all week on the fast pace the Chiefs would bring to the game. He believed his unit was prepared to slow them down, but the reality couldn’t have been farther from the truth. The Steelers’ defense arguably performed the worst of any team against the Chiefs in the 2024 season, failing to execute on key assignments.
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Steelers' Patrick Queen gets ready to attempt to slow down the Baltimore Ravens during an away game in the 2024 NFL regular season.
Despite the disappointment, Queen made it clear that he knows every player in the locker room cares deeply about winning. However, he urged his teammates to look themselves in the mirror and hold themselves accountable. Queen's solution to breaking the defensive slump is straightforward: just do your job.
It's a simple solution but one that must happen if Pittsburgh wants to have any shot in the postseason. The Steelers have now lost three straight games in brutal fashion. They will need to beat the Cincinnati Bengals if they want to end the regular season on a decent note. Entering into the playoffs with a win is not only ideal but essential now.
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