PITTSBURGH — Legendary Steelers coach Bill Cowher didn’t hold back when discussing the team’s defensive struggles this week. After Pittsburgh’s 35–25 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Cowher echoed concerns from fans and analysts that the once-feared Steelers defense looks sluggish and out of rhythm.
“They look old,” Cowher said on CBS’s “NFL Today.” “It’s like they’ve lost that edge. You see Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey — big names, all leaders. But names don’t win games; execution does. Right now, they’re missing that spark that used to define Steelers football.”
The Steelers currently have one of the NFL’s highest-paid — and oldest — defensive units. Five of Sunday’s defensive starters were 30 or older: Heyward is 36, Darius Slay Jr. is 34, Watt and Ramsey are 31, and Chuck Clark is 30. Once viewed as an elite core, this group now finds itself ranked
30th in yards allowed and 22nd in points allowed heading into Week 9 against the Colts.
“I’m 34. Maybe he puts me in that ‘old’ category,” Darius Slay said with a smile. “But I don’t see it like that. It’s not about age — it’s about being on the same page and staying together.”
Against Green Bay, the Steelers’ defense gave up 244 yards after the catch, exposing issues in tackling and pursuit angles. While some plays came down to positioning, many reflected what critics described as a lack of speed in open-field coverage. Defensive coordinator
Teryl Austin admitted the struggles were frustrating but said the group remains committed to improvement.
“We pride ourselves on being a good tackling team and a physical team,” Austin said. “That can be demoralizing — and it was. But it’s fixable.”
Cowher’s comments drew comparisons to 2011, when Warren Sapp famously declared the Steelers “old, slow, and done” after a poor start — only for that team to rebound and finish 12–4 with the league’s top-ranked defense. Whether this current squad can repeat that turnaround remains to be seen.
Austin stressed that the focus now is consistency, not panic. “It’s about the process,” he said. “Good or bad, that doesn’t change. My job is to make sure our message connects with the players. We’ve been through bad stretches before — this is another test.”
Team captain Cam Heyward echoed that sentiment, issuing a challenge to his teammates following the loss. “I challenge everybody — starting with myself,” he said. “If we want to get this bad taste out of our mouths, it’s time to play better football.”
The Steelers’ defense has been particularly vulnerable late in games, surrendering 11.7 points per fourth quarter, the worst mark in the NFL. Heyward emphasized the need to finish strong: “It’s not just about the fourth quarter — it’s about starting fast, staying focused, and executing when it counts. We can’t rely on the offense to bail us out. We’ve got to take pride in our side of the ball.”
Looking ahead, Pittsburgh faces a tough challenge against the Indianapolis Colts, who are averaging 34 points per game behind Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones. Despite the criticism, Heyward remains optimistic.
“I love challenges,” he said. “We’re going up against one of the hottest teams in football right now. That’s exactly what we need — a chance to prove who we are.”
Steelers WR DK Metcalf Fined $12,172 After Heated Clash with Packers LB Quay Walker – Reveals What Sparked the Altercation
PITTSBURGH — The NFL has fined Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf $12,172 for “unnecessary roughness” following a fourth-quarter altercation in the 35–25 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
With just over ten minutes left in the game, running back Jaylen Warren was forced out of bounds after a short gain. Moments later, Metcalf engaged in a brief but fiery exchange with Packers linebacker Quay Walker — an incident that ended with Metcalf grabbing Walker’s facemask. The 15-yard penalty turned a manageable third-and-2 into third-and-17, killing Pittsburgh’s drive and leading to a punt.
The NFL fined Steelers WR DK Metcalf $12,172 for unsportsmanlike conduct — this run-in with Packers LB Quay Walker last week.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 1, 2025
The league later announced the fine on Saturday, citing first-offense standards for striking. It marks Metcalf’s first fine of the 2025 season but the 15th of his NFL career, with total fines now exceeding $170,000.
When asked about the penalty, Metcalf kept his composure but didn’t hide his frustration:
“I know what I did wasn’t smart, but you try staying quiet when a guy disrespects you, your teammates, and your city all game long. I took one step too far, but I won’t apologize for standing up for the black and gold.”
Metcalf then revealed what ignited the outburst, claiming Walker’s words crossed the line:
“He started saying things you just don’t say to another man,” Metcalf said. “Stuff like, ‘You’re nothing without Rodgers,’ and ‘Steelers ain’t built like they used to be.’ He kept running his mouth the whole game — about me, about my team, about this city. That’s when I lost it. You don’t talk about the Steelers like that.”
Despite the fine, Metcalf still posted five receptions for 55 yards and his fifth touchdown of the season. Since joining the Steelers in a blockbuster trade from Seattle, he has become one of Aaron Rodgers’ top targets — with 27 catches, 461 yards, and five scores through eight weeks.
The NFL has not issued any disciplinary action against Quay Walker. However, league sources confirmed that officials are reviewing video and audio from the altercation to determine if further steps are warranted.
