Steelers' Patrick Queen Provides Definitive Reason For Pittsburgh's Improved Defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense is a unit that has struggled at times throughout their 2025 season. However, in its recent stretch in which the team has won four of their last five games, the defense has found a key that has helped it become more successful. The Steelers' defense had given up 57 combined points, 31 to the Chicago Bears and 26 to the Buffalo Bills, the two weeks prior to the five-game stretch. However, in the last five contests, the Steelers have surrendered just 19.6 points per game to opponents. Pittsburgh has been consistent in one area which has helped improve that number.

The Steelers' defense will need to continue to hold its opponents at bay, as Pittsburgh plans to welcome the Houston Texans to Acrisure Stadium on Monday Night in its first-round playoff matchup. The one well-known strength of the Texans is their defensive unit, so keeping their offense off of the scoreboard will be crucial as every possession will be magnified. 

The quarterback of the Steelers defense, linebacker Patrick Queen, spoke with the media on Friday and eluded to the key that the unit has found to provide it with more success on the field. 

"I think everybody's just being them," Queen said. "I don't think we're stressed like we were, pressing like we were earlier in the season. I think everybody just understands like, 'Hey, this is what we do,' just going out there playing free, playing our type of football, trusting the man next to you and just doing your job."

Queen has mentioned that he went to Head Coach Mike Tomlin earlier on in the 2025 season so he could find a way to voice the issues he sees to Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin in a calmer way. That conversation appears to have been pivotal in improving a defensive unit that had been struggling before the five-game run in which the Steelers have lost just once. The Steelers' defense will look to carry that momentum in Monday's contest with the Texans.

Steelers Defense Will Be Key In What Should Be A Low Scoring Game

With Houston having the strong defense that it does, which everyone has boasted about throughout 2025, the Steelers' defense will be key to keeping CJ Stroud and the Texans offense off the field. Stroud's athletic ability will present a challenge to the Steelers, as he can scramble when needed. Stroud has rushed the ball 48 times in 2025, so if he does feel pressure, he will not be shy to try and scamper down the field against the Steelers.

The Steelers' defense has been the blame for some losses throughout the season. In Week 7, the group allowed Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco to put up 33 points. The collective then followed that up in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers by allowing 35 points. 

Things have improved since those two losses as well, and the Steelers' defense has been far more consistent, having given up less than 20 points per game in its last five, it will look to do much of the same Monday night to combat Houston's great defense. 

The Steelers have not won a game in the playoffs since the 2016 Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs in January of 2017. Steelers fans have grown sick of hearing about that drought, but it is something that inevitably is mentioned each year that they come up short in the postseason. 

The Steelers cohesion defensively will play a big factor into whether or not the organization can finally silence critics and secure a playoff win against the Texans. Getting out to a fast start and keeping the Texans off the board as much as possible would help the Steelers' offense keep Houston's defense on the field frequently. Executing that game plan will give the Steelers a great chance to finally get over the hump in the postseason on Monday night in Pittsburgh.

Do you think the Steelers defense has been doing better at not pressing and sticking to assignments? Let us know in the comments below!

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