The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading the way to a 127.1 passer rating and three touchdowns without an interception. The Steelers’ defense was criticized for its performance, with safety DeShon Elliott stating that players were not doing their jobs and needed to get back to basics. Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward added that when one player fails to do their job, the entire defense is compromised.
The loss marked the Steelers’ third straight defeat, all to teams that will be playing in the postseason. This historic swoon has seen the Steelers allow at least 25 points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2018. The team’s point differential has also reached -50 or worse in three games for the second time in the past 35 seasons.
Linebacker Alex Highsmith acknowledged the frustration of the team’s recent performances, urging his teammates to take responsibility and work hard to improve. The Steelers will look to turn things around in their regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.