The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just lose to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday - they got steamrolled. The 26-7 final score only scratches the surface of what was, by every measure, a defensive meltdown.
The most jarring stat? Pittsburgh gave up 249 rushing yards - the most they’ve allowed in a single game in 50 years.
That’s not just a bad day at the office. That’s a full-blown crisis for a franchise that prides itself on defensive toughness.
It was a performance that left fans stunned and players visibly frustrated. Linebacker Patrick Queen, who left the game with an injury that doesn’t appear to be long-term, made his feelings known after the game - not just on the field, but online.
Queen took to social media to address criticism being thrown his way, and while he didn’t name names, it didn’t take long for fans to connect the dots. His response appeared to be aimed at former Steelers lineman and two-time Super Bowl champ Trai Essex, who had weighed in on the team’s struggles.
Queen’s frustration is understandable. He came to Pittsburgh in 2024 on a $41 million deal, expected to be a cornerstone of a defense built to dominate.
But so far, the results have been underwhelming - not just for Queen, but for the entire unit. The Steelers’ defense, once the backbone of this team, has looked shaky, undisciplined, and now, historically vulnerable against the run.
To Essex’s credit, he handled the response from Queen with grace - even poking a little fun at his own playing days. But the exchange highlights a deeper issue: the tension bubbling beneath the surface in Pittsburgh. When former players start questioning current ones, and those current players start firing back, it’s a sign of a team under pressure - and not just from opponents.
Right now, everything that can go wrong for the Steelers’ defense is going wrong. Missed tackles, poor gap discipline, and a lack of physicality have turned what should be a playoff-caliber defense into a liability. And when that kind of breakdown hits in December, with the postseason picture coming into focus, the margin for error shrinks fast.
Now comes a massive test. The Steelers are set to face the Baltimore Ravens this weekend in a game that will decide who sits atop the AFC North.
That’s not just a rivalry game - it’s a measuring stick. And if Pittsburgh wants to stay in the conversation as a serious contender, they’ll need Patrick Queen and the rest of that defense to regroup and respond.
Because right now, the noise is getting louder. And the only way to quiet it is on the field.