The Pittsburgh Steelers entering the game on Thursday night had a 4-1 record and the Cincinnati Bengals were on a four-game losing streak. Pittsburgh’s defense has problems covering wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase all game long and they did not get after quarterback Joe Flacco.

Cincinnati took down the Steelers by a final score of 33-31. With the win for the Bengals, they improve to 3-4 on the season and Pittsburgh drops to 4-2 on the season. This was a bad loss for this team. Aaron Rodgers played great, but the defense let them down. A lot of fans were not thrilled with head coach Mike Tomlin or defensive coordinator Teryl Austin for that matter.

Many Steelers fans are upset that the defense struggled against the Bengals. They want the defensive coordinator fired. Pittsburgh’s defense has not played so well this season. This is what some fans said on Twitter:

Fire Teryl Austin into the sun. Worst defensive coordinator in the history of the sport. It’s embarrassing for the entire organisation that he’s still here with the same soft zone coverage that hasn’t worked in three years despite having the most talented defence in the league.

when will there be accountability? fire the defensive coordinator. it’s every week they don’t play a 1-5 team they look terrible and the head coach should be on the hot seat too, seems whenever he needs to win he can’t and it’s been that way his entire tenure, get him out.

Fire Teryl Austin. This defense has too much talent to be this bad. My condolences to Aaron that the year he comes to town we don’t have a competent defense at all.

The Steelers defense will be battled tested once again when week eight rolls around. They will be back at home against the Green Bay Packers. Jordan Love is a much better quarterback than Flacco is. There is no doubt that are concerns about Pittsburgh’s defense as the 2025 NFL season marches on.