After a 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, the vibes are not good in Steelers nation.
On offense, the Steelers looked out-coached and underprepared. But more worrying might’ve been an apparent lack of talent compared to New England.
A high-pedigree offensive line looked lost in the run and pass game. Receivers weren’t getting open and struggled to hang onto the ball. Running backs couldn’t gain yardage consistently. And the team failed to generate explosive gains as well as crucial plays,
going a paltry two-of-12 on third down.
Plenty of discussion has focused on whether or not the team’s new coaching staff, led by Mike McCarthy, is already a problem. But for a team that has historically prided itself in drafting a developing franchise players, many of those selections didn’t live up to expectations on Sunday. Is the Steelers’ roster weaker than we thought?
Steelers coverage from Behind the Steel Curtain
- Le’Veon Bell criticizes DK Metcalf: Fans aren’t the only ones frustrated with the Steelers’ top receiver.
- Bengals favored over Steelers ahead of Week 3: A rough loss to the Patriots has oddsmakers low on the Steelers ahead of AFC North play.
- Steelers Week 2 grades: Were there any positives from Pittsburgh’s 17-point loss?
Steelers discussion: Has Pittsburgh drafted poorly as of late?
The jury is still out on the 2026 class, but have past groups contributed enough?
Be sure to join The Feed, where you can share your thoughts right now!
Pittsburgh Steelers news and notes
- Getting their kicks from distance: The Steelers’ field goal operation hasn’t been perfect so far this season, but the team remains fully confident in kicker Chris Boswell.
- Steelers still emphasizing takeaways: Despite a new coaching staff, the team’s turnover culture hasn’t disappeared.
- Steelers give back: The latest on charity efforts from several Steelers players.
News from around the NFL
- Jaxson Dart injury: Giants’ QB could miss the remainder of the 2026 season: A big blow to a New York team that looked promising to open the season.
- Aaron Donald took 2 years off football and still went beast mode: The future Hall of Famer wasn’t dominant last week, but he’s still impressing after two seasons away from football.
- Ranking NFL’s 0-2 teams by chances to actually make the playoffs: This early in the season, records still don’t mean that much.
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Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!













