It was the second week of the 2025 NFL regular season, and "September football" was in full bloom across the landscape. Missed assignments, mental mistakes, full-on brain cramps, injuries sometimes in bunches stressing position groups and weakening rosters.

The Steelers were guilty of playing "September football" on Sunday against Seattle in their home opener at Acrisure Stadium, but that wasn't the only contributing factor in what ended up being a 31-17 loss that dropped them to 1-1. For the second straight week, their run defense and their pass protection were leaky, and one of the truisms about football played at any level and in every month is that games are won or lost on the lines of scrimmage.

From a statistical standpoint, the run defense against the Seahawks was better than it h

See Full Page