INDIANAPOLIS (93.7 The Fan) – It’s not what fans are used to seeing or what the Steelers expect from their defense. It’s more than the 358 yards, but the 22 first downs and the Steelers allowing 8 of 15 on third down in the 27-24 loss on Sunday.
“You can say they played well, but we beat themselves,” said Steelers first-year safety DeShon Elliott. “I don’t care what nobody else says, we beat ourselves. You can’t give up 27 points in the NFL. We had missed opportunities. We weren’t playing like ourselves today. We need to get back to the drawing board and get it together.”
“Third and longs is always an advantage for a defense, but we didn’t take advantage of it,” said Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward. “To not execute in those moments, unacceptable.”
“I think it was more of what we didn’t do,” said safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. “We knew exactly what they were trying to do, get chunks. We had opportunities to make plays on the ball and didn’t make them. It would have taken points off the board and swung momentum our way. We didn’t make them and they took advantage of them.”
“A lack of communication and execution,” said Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. “It is nothing bigger than that. We just were sloppy. That’s why when we needed it, we couldn’t get it done. Some of us trying to be Superman. Everybody just on their gap, do their job and we will be fine.”
“Put the blame on us,” said second-year nose tackle Keeanu Benton. “I feel like the Steelers control what the Pittsburgh Steelers do and we didn’t go out there and achieve the goals that we set.”
I put all of those quotes out there as an understanding to what was said in the locker room. Then by far the most damning thing said Sunday after the loss. Elliott said they never played like that in training camp, let alone a game. He’s just four games into his Steelers career and he suggested something that is a red flag.
“We need to work harder in practice,” Elliott said. “I felt like we could be better. If we want to be a great defense, it starts in practice.”
Wednesday they will be back on the field getting ready for Dallas. Let’s see how this defense responds going from the best in the league in points against to 27 against the Colts.