The Steelers are in a bit of flux as we head toward Week 9 of the 2025 season. While in recent years, you could have set your watch to a Steelers collapse around late November-early December, Pittsburgh
could be in the midst of the ground falling out from under them before Thanksgiving.
The defense currently ranks last in the NFL in passing yards per game, and it has surrendered 68 points and 924 yards over its last two games. This has put the spotlight on both Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, with many arguing over who calls the plays on defense, thus making that party more responsible for the defensive woes. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Austin clarified that he is the one who calls the plays.
“I’m calling [the plays],” Austin said via Brooke Pyror. “And if Mike wants to call it, he calls it. That’s how we roll.”
So Austin calls the defense… except when Tomlin wants to? Well, when does Tomlin decide he wants to call the plays? This simultaneously provided clarity, but created more questions. Either way, the whole thing is a mess, and the Steelers have the red-hot Colts and their historically good offense coming to town on Sunday. Should the defensive struggles continue, Indianapolis will run away with a win and hand the Steelers their third straight loss.
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