Seahawks Star Delivers Condemning Statement On The Steelers After Big Win: 'Didn't Have The Juice'
The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered an ugly loss to the Seattle Seahawks during the team's home opener on Sunday as they fell by a score of 31-17. The game was close throughout most of the contest, but Pittsburgh made several critical mistakes late in the game that wound up costing the team the game. These mistakes included an ugly error on special teams that handed Seattle a touchdown, turnovers by the offense, and an ugly performance on defense despite forcing two turnovers.
Looking back on the 2025 season in its entirety, this is going to be a game that the Steelers know they could have won. It was small, silly errors that lost the game for the Steelers, and the team seemed like it had the life sucked out of them by the end of the contest.
A tradition during home games in Pittsburgh is playing Renegade late in the second half, and the crowd and players on the field get hyped up. That was attempted on Sunday against Seattle, but the Seahawks made the moment their own, which Leonard Williams shared with
"That's our song," Williams said. "That was our mission all week. They play really tight close games, and in those close games, they play that song to get their team going. With us knowing that, we played that song a few times in practice, and every time we played it, we got hype. And it showed up again. I love seeing our sideline get electric like that, and looking at their sideline, and they just didn’t have the juice. It was amazing."
The song was played in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's loss on Sunday, and Seattle was able to put together a touchdown drive right after it was blared throughout the stadium. Seattle's defense was on the sideline waving their towels around and getting excited, and Williams noticed that there was no enthusiasm coming from the opposite side of the field.
Typically when the song plays, the Steelers are able to make a big play on defense, but the defensive side of the ball has been so atrocious for Pittsburgh so far this season that Seattle was able to carve up the defense for a touchdown drive. To make matters worse, Pittsburgh had Seattle at the 19-yard line in a third and goal situation, and the Steelers still allowed the Seahawks to rush for a touchdown in that scenario. It was a despicable performance from the Steelers, and things need to be turned around defensively and as a whole before the Week 3 matchup with the New England Patriots.
Some fans might take issue with Williams' comments after the game, but they are completely warranted. Seattle prepared throughout the week at practice with Renegade playing, and they were the team that was able to make meaningful plays late in the game when it mattered most.
Steelers' Defense Has A Chance To Turn Things Around In Coming Weeks
Pittsburgh will take on the Patriots in Week 3, and the Steelers desperately need to turn things around. They can't have a repeat performance of what was seen against Seattle, and Pittsburgh should be set up for success as they will be taking on a second-year quarterback in Drake Maye. Maye has not even started for a full season, but he is expected to have a good career. He is coming off of a good performance in Week 2, but the Steelers have the defensive star power to slow down New England and finally put up a good performance. If the defense looks like it has so far in 2025, it is time to sound the alarm.
Steelers Get ‘Good News’ on Alex Highsmith Injury Ahead of Week 3
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith left the Week 2 loss against the Seattle Seahawks with an injury, and there was a mostly positive update on that developing situation on Monday, September 15.
“Steelers LB Alex Highsmith, who left Sunday’s game with what Mike Tomlin called a high-ankle sprain, is not likely to be placed on IR, sources say,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport relayed on X. Adding: “That’s good news, an indication that it’s not as serious as first believed. IR would knock him out four games.”
So, while Highsmith may still be unavailable for Week 3 against the New England Patriots, there is reason to believe that he won’t miss too much time.
Considering Highsmith was seen in a “walking boot” after the defeat, and Rapoport himself noted a four-to-six week recovery timeline was possible, it would seem the Steelers managed to dodge a bullet on this one.
Alex Highsmith’s Contract Called Into Question After Latest Injury With Steelers
Highsmith is earning $17 million per year after signing a $68 million contract in 2023. And Steelers Nation is beginning to question if the production and availability are worth the price tag.
“Alex Highsmith got a contract extension in July of 2023. His sack total was then cut in half in 2023. He missed six games in 2024. [And] he missed all of camp in 2025 and is now injured in the second week of the season,” Josh Rowntree of 937 The Fan posted on the evening of September 14.
Fans also chimed in on social media, calling for more Nick Herbig usage and a contract restructure of Highsmith.
It’s true that Highsmith has yet to recapture the magic of his 14.5-sack campaign in 2022. Of course, this season directly led to the aforementioned contract extension.
Highsmith has managed a combined 13.0 sacks over the past two regular seasons, with 1.0 sack in each of the Steelers’ past two playoff appearances and another 1.0 sack to begin the 2025 campaign.
The veteran starter did add 9 tackles for a loss in just 11 starts last year, with 13 QB hits and 1 forced fumble. He also got off to a hot start this season, according to Pro Football Focus, leading all edge rushers with a minimum of 20% snaps played in “PRP.”
Per PFF, PRP is a “formula that combines sacks, hits and hurries relative to how many times they rush the passer.”
Highsmith is also currently tied for seventh among all NFL edge rushers in pass-rush win-rate after two games.
Steelers Need More From Defense in Week 3
Over the first two weeks of football, it’s surprisingly been the Steelers’ defense that’s come up a bit short, allowing 30-plus points in each outing.
Now, obviously it all works hand-in-hand, and offensive and special teams struggles sometimes lead to defensive letdowns, but even so, this is not what head coach Mike Tomlin had in mind when he went out and acquired Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark and more.
Pittsburgh is still without first-round defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, and the Highsmith injury adds another potential problem, but the Steelers need more from their defense if they have serious Super Bowl aspirations.
This was never supposed to be a weekly shootout led by Aaron Rodgers, it was supposed to be a methodical and steady offense carried by an elite defense. As of now, that’s not what anyone has witnessed.
