The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense couldn’t contain a high-octane Chicago Bears offense, allowing 31 points in a three-point loss Sunday. While T.J. Watt contributed positively with a sack/fumble that directly led to a Steelers’ touchdown, he also acknowledged the work Pittsburgh must do going forward. There’s a lot of it.
Pittsburgh’s highly-touted defense has struggled to make plays against formidable offensive units. That remained true at Soldier Field against QB Caleb Williams. Even with the Bears’ excellent running game held in check throughout the game, Williams repeated big plays through the air. He threw for 239 yards and dotted the secondary with three touchdown passes. Two of them beat man coverage, while another exploited the Steelers’ simple zone coverage. Williams would’ve had even better numbers had he not flat-out missed open throws over the middle.
A lack of pressure did Pittsburgh no favors. While Watt’s impact play was huge, it was the only such moment of Williams getting his jersey dirty. Despite nearly 40 Williams dropbacks, he was hit and sacked just once, by Watt on his end zone play.
“A lot of second and longs that I can remember that turned into either third and shorts and were converted or either converted from second to long,” Watt told reporters via the team’s website postgame. “So, same story, man. Gotta get off the field.”
Chicago won on third-and-long and finished 7-of-13 on third down for the game. Add in the Bears’ fourth down conversion, a designed Williams run, and Chicago went 8-of-14 on possession downs. The Bears also posted three key points before the half. In a game in which they ultimately won by three, that was critical.
“We need to get pressure to help those guys in the back end,” Watt said.
A frustrated Watt knows that saying the same things becomes meaningless without changes.
“I agree completely. It’s not acceptable,” he said of the Bears’ late-half drive.
Pittsburgh’s journey against quarterbacks doesn’t get easier in the coming weeks. Josh Allen will be the Steelers’ problem to solve next Sunday, followed by Lamar Jackson the week after, even if Pittsburgh has generally had success against the latter.
Clearly, the Steelers’ defense isn’t playing like it has in past years and is far from meeting 2025 expectations. Once teased as historic, the group is trying to avoid infamy.
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