Takeaways: Steelers momentum stalled in loss to Packers

Steel City Underground presents post-game takeaways following each 2025 NFL regular season game that focuses on how the Pittsburgh Steelers performed, key statistics, their opponents and more! 

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not put together an impressive performance against the visiting Green Bay Packers on Sunday night during Week 8 of the 2025 NFL regular season. Some of the errors that hurt the Steelers in Week 7 reared their ugly heads again in their 35-25 loss to the Packers. And, when things looked to have improved, two major officiating errors became obstacles Pittsburgh couldn’t overcome as their momentum stalled. We offer takeaways from the disappointing matchup.

Miscues plus officiating blunders

In the last two weeks of play, the Steelers defense has been exposed – especially on the edge. Packers quarterback Jordan Love took advantage of man coverage by hitting quick passes that ended up gaining yards after the catch due to poor tackling technique. Veteran Darius Slay got caught at least twice in this game not wrapping up open field tackles. Entering the game, Slay had been credited with six missed tackles on the season.

For a revamped, retooled defense full of talent brought in for this season things have not been paying off. Jalen Ramsey has arguably been the best statistical cornerback on the roster due to Joey Porter Jr. not taking the next step in progression in year three, but even Ramsey struggled at times in this game.

The Steelers did make some adjustments that seemed to be working ahead of the halftime break, but they lagged once again in the second half. Some of those issues can be arguably placed at the feet of Sunday night’s officiating crew.

Officials in the game missed an obvious offsides penalty that should have gone against the Packers. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense thought they had a free play. Instead, there was no call.

The defense gave up 360 yards to the Packers offense through the air; tight end Tucker Kraft accounting for 143 on his own (20.4 yards per reception average due to yards gained after the initial catch). But one of those big Kraft gains was due to an obvious shove-off before the ball arrived, with DeShon Elliott being the recipient of the push – unable to make a play on the ball.

Just those two plays combined to take all the sails out of a Steelers defense that was already spiraling out of control due to overall poor officiating and penalties incurred out of frustration. And there were other questionable calls and no-calls that stacked up, and not in the Steelers’ favor.

If Elliott’s injury, incurred during this game, is serious the Steelers will need to address the backfield, possibly before the trade deadline.

Steelers didn’t win the little battles

In our pregame preview, we outlined how the Steelers would need to win the little battles in order to succeed overall.

Pittsburgh sent the blitz the majority of their snaps on defense with little success. Victory: Packers. Jordan Love was sacked a total of zero times. That’s right: pressure was ineffective. Slamming T.J. Watt into multiple blockers on the Packers offensive front did not work, but Teryl Austin kept sending him – and a mix of Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Is it time for Austin to change up how he  pressures? We’d say, yes.

We talked about sticking with the big, jumbo” package – utilizing multiple tight ends – to get the ground game established and then build off of it. In Sunday’s game, the Steelers ran the ball just 18 times. Jaylen Warren carried the ball 13 times for 62 yards. Kenneth Gainwell had 5 carries for 31 yards. By not putting emphasis on the run, the Steelers offense became very predictable. Gainwell’s fumble was only costly because Pittsburgh had already lost all momentum by that point.

We wrote, “Situational football — such as third-down stops, two-minute drills, and clock management — will loom large in this game. The Steelers must stay composed, avoid penalties, and remain composed in this game.” All of those things were areas that Pittsburgh struggled to do, and it cost them.

Numbers don’t lie

The adage that numbers don’t lie is true. How those numbers look on the field during the game may vary.

Offensively, the Packers won time of possession by around three minutes, but their third-down efficiency was better. They outplayed the Steelers in gains by 159 yards.

Rodgers went 24 of 36 for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns in this game. Love, the quarterback he mentored while in Green Bay, went 29 of 37 for 360 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Rodgers did continue to spread the ball around to multiple targets with mixed results. Receiver Roman Wilson had more targets this week as Calvin Austin III returned, and Wilson’s touchdown showed he has grown despite little usage.