The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense doesn’t carry a hefty price tag, but their defense is the highest-paid in football. Anchored by playmakers at every level, including TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the defense had been dominant through the first three games. Steelers fans were eagerly anticipating another stellar performance from their high-priced unit.
However, the Steelers' defense was shredded early. Pittsburgh quickly fell behind 17-0 as the Indianapolis Colts' offense thrived. It was a shocking turn for Steeler Nation, who may have expected some regression after their defense's strong performances, but nothing as drastic as this drop-off.
In total, the Steelers surrendered 358 yards of offense to the Colts. They struggled to get off the field on third downs and allowed backup quarterback Joe Flacco to pick apart their secondary. A former Steelers rival-turned-analyst Chris Canty harshly criticized the defense on ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike, calling them frauds.
"Frauds. I'm doing it. I hate to do it to my frat brother, Mike Tomlin, but I gotta say no, they're frauds," Canty said. "I don't want to hear about how it's a great defense. You're not a great defense. The Colts kept hitting their head on the goalpost to start the game. I mean, they led with three straight scoring drives, including back-to-back touchdowns. No, they're frauds. Don't gimme that."
Flacco has been a thorn in the Steelers' side for years, dating back to his time as the Baltimore Ravens' quarterback. When Colts starter Anthony Richardson exited early due to injury, he had already been carving up Pittsburgh’s defense.
Flacco then stepped in, completing 16 of 26 passes for 168 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. The Steelers' inability to stop the Colts’ offense, no matter who was under center, is why Canty now believes the defense is fraudulent.
"And in the backup quarterback, Joe Flacco comes in and looks great. If you are the best defense in the entire NFL, how do you let that game get that out hand for your offense? No, man. Frauds. Frauds. The Pittsburgh Steelers are frauds."
The defense had been dominant through the first three games, but their performance against the Colts was a reality check. Watt was a non-factor, though he faced constant double-teams and was held on several key plays.
The run defense couldn’t stop anyone, and the secondary looked vulnerable. Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who had been struggling this season, had his best game by far, hauling in six catches for 113 yards against the Steelers.
Steelers Defense Will Look To Rebound Against Dallas At Home
It’s alarming that the NFL’s highest-paid defense couldn’t slow down the Colts' offense, but this is the NFL—these types of games happen. Hopefully, it will serve as a valuable learning experience for the defense, allowing them to regain momentum in Week 5. Joey Porter Jr. dropped a crucial interception, and Patrick Queen missed an opportunity to recover a fumble.
Overall, there were no splash plays, and a series of small errors added up. The Steelers defense couldn’t contain the Colts, but this isn’t the end of the road. Even the best defenses struggle at times. Now, they’ll look to bounce back and shut down the Dallas Cowboys at home on Sunday.
