The Pittsburgh Steelers are feeling the heat-and rightfully so-after a 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills that exposed more than just a few cracks in the foundation. That defeat marked their third in the last four games, and it pushed them out of first place in the AFC North, with the Baltimore Ravens now reclaiming the top spot.
This wasn’t just a loss-it was a statement game, and not the kind Pittsburgh wanted to make.
Former NFL defensive end Marcus Spears didn’t hold back when breaking down what went wrong for the Steelers. Speaking on NFL Live, Spears pointed to a defense that simply couldn’t hold the line.
“They couldn't set the edge,” he said. “They couldn't handle a cutback schematically.
They could not stop the run.” That’s not just poor execution-that’s a fundamental breakdown in defensive integrity.
Spears also took a broader look at the state of the franchise, suggesting the Steelers are exactly where they deserve to be. His take?
This is a team that’s been spinning its wheels since Ben Roethlisberger retired, lacking a clear direction at the quarterback position and failing to establish a post-Big Ben identity. “They’ve been waffling the last seven years,” Spears added.
“We all know the truth.”
And the truth is, Pittsburgh rolled the dice on Aaron Rodgers this season, hoping the 40-year-old veteran still had enough left in the tank to guide them back to the playoffs. But so far, the gamble hasn’t paid off. At 6-6, the Steelers are squarely in the middle of the AFC playoff logjam, and with two games still to come against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier.
Frustration is mounting-not just inside the locker room, but in the stands as well. Steelers fans made their feelings known during the Buffalo game, chanting “Fire Tomlin” in a rare public show of discontent toward head coach Mike Tomlin.
It’s worth noting: Tomlin is in his 19th season and has never posted a losing record. But in Pittsburgh, expectations are always sky-high, and patience is wearing thin.
After the game, Aaron Rodgers didn’t mince words either. The four-time MVP was visibly frustrated and pointed to a miscommunication with tight end Jonnu Smith as a key moment in the game.
On a crucial play, Rodgers checked to an in-breaking route, but Smith ran an out-breaker instead. That miscue, according to Rodgers, cost the team a touchdown opportunity.
“We weren’t on the same page,” Rodgers said postgame. He added that Smith is a “true professional” and likely just as frustrated by the mistake.
Still, the numbers tell the story: Rodgers completed just 10 of 21 passes for 117 yards with no touchdowns. The lone bright spot for Pittsburgh came early in the first quarter, when Jaylen Warren punched in a rushing touchdown.
After that, the offense stalled-and never recovered.
Now, the Steelers turn their attention to a high-stakes matchup in Baltimore against a Ravens team that’s hitting its stride. If Pittsburgh wants to keep its playoff hopes alive, it’ll need more than just a bounce-back performance-it’ll need a full-on recalibration, especially on both sides of the ball.
The talent is there. The urgency is undeniable. But if the Steelers want to prove they’re more than just a team stuck in transition, it starts now.