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For 30 minutes, the Pittsburgh Steelers looked like a team rediscovering its swagger. They were crisp, physical, and efficient on both sides of the ball. Pittsurgh took a commanding 16-7 lead into halftime over the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers was in control and the Steelers’ defense looked dialed in. What followed, though, was a meltdown so complete that it left even their most loyal fans stunned.
The second half was an unraveling of everything that worked in the first. Pittsburgh was outscored, 28-9, after the break. The Steelers gave up big plays through the air, failed to protect the football, and watched Jordan Love pick them apart. Tight end Tucker Kraft torched the Steelers’ secondary for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ own offense sputtered and settled for field goals. The 35-25 defeat dropped Pittsburgh to 4-3 on the season They are still technically atop the AFC North. However, this is suddenly a team with glaring cracks in its foundation.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers most to blame for dismal second half in loss to Packers.
What happened to the vaunted Steelers defense? The same group that smothered Green Bay early on completely fell apart after halftime. Missed tackles, blown coverages, and undisciplined penalties defined a night that should have belonged to them.
Love found rhythm after a shaky start. He just carved up Pittsburgh’s secondary with precision. Kraft was the biggest thorn in their side. He repeatedly found space over the middle, caught seven passes, and had two scores. Most of his 140+ yards came after the catch. Steelers defenders struggled to bring him down. On his second touchdown, Kraft even outran everyone. That was a damning indictment of the unit’s lack of speed in the back end.
Defensive captain Cameron Heyward didn’t mince words afterward, admitting, “There’s not a lot of fight in us right now.”
It showed, too. Cornerback Brandin Echols missed a tackle that led directly to a Packers touchdown. Meanwhile, safety Juan Thornhill looked lost tracking the ball on deep throws. Even standout corner Joey Porter Jr drew multiple costly penalties that extended drives.
The Steelers bet heavily on their experienced secondary to provide leadership and stability. The reality is grim, though. The veterans have slowed down, and the younger players aren’t disciplined enough to fill the gaps. Unless this defense finds a way to regain its edge, it will keep letting leads slip away.
The offense was efficient and creative in the first half. However, it fell completely lifeless in the second. Rodgers looked sharp early. He orchestrated three scoring drives before the break. After halftime, however, the spark disappeared. The Steelers punted on three of their first five second-half possessions and turned the ball over in a crucial fourth-quarter moment that effectively sealed the loss. The offensive line crumbled under Green Bay’s second-half pressure. Rodgers was sacked three times. Those...
