Steelers Now
To say the least, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fourth-quarter defense was brutal in 2025.
On a drive basis, the 2025 Steelers’ fourth-quarter defense ranked no. 32 in score rate per drive (60.4%), No. 32 in percentage of drives allowed to reach the red zone (40%), No. 31 in yards per drive allowed (36%) and No. 30 in punt rate forced (17%), according to Sharp Football. There have been 830 teams to play a season since 2000. The Steelers score rate of 60.4% ranks No. 826 of 830.
In addition, Matt Williamson of Steelers.com, posted this eye-opening stat. 174 of the Steelers’ 387 points against came in the fourth quarter, the most total points allowed in the fourth quarter since the 2020 Las Vegas Raiders.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers had two deep touchdown receptions from Lamar Jackson in the Ravens’ Week 18 loss to the Steelers last season. One was a 64-yarder and the other was from 50 yards out. Both came in the fourth quarter. The Steelers also let up 26-yard reception on fourth-and-7 to Isaiah Likely, setting the Ravens up for a game-winning field goal. The Steelers were bailed out, as Tyler Loop’s 44-yard field goal went wide right.
Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin noted that they could’ve executed better and made better calls, but ultimately, Jackson was the difference maker.
“I think Lamar first and foremost on a lot of fronts,” Tomlin said on Tuesday when asked about why the Ravens were able to get explosive plays over the top of the defense. “He makes you do some things schematically that could make you uncomfortable, but if you’re trying to win moments in the game you do what you have to do.
“But also just his unique talents. I mean, one of those touchdowns we had two of our most significant guys, had him wrapped up in the backfield and he somehow came out of [Keeanu] Benton and [Alex] Highsmith and threw a long touchdown. So his talents were directly impactful. His talents also dictated schematics at times. To put it succinctly, Lamar Jackson.”
Former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Juan Thornhill recently opened up on his brief tenure with the Steelers. Let’s just say, Thornhill wasn’t fond of defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
“I didn’t enjoy playing for that DC,” Thornhill replied to a fan on TikTok.
The Steelers graded out 17th in the league in points allowed and 26th in yards allowed last season. If Tomlin didn’t resign after the season, Austin probably would’ve been fired.
Tomlin agreed with Thornhill’s statement last August that the defense had the potential to do historic things. It ended up being historic, but in a bad way, however.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Inside the Numbers: Steelers Defense Was Historically Bad in 2025
