INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt made it clear in his postgame interview after Sunday night's 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that the defense can't live off turnovers.
"Inconsistent as it could be, too much up and down," Watt said. "We can't continue to live and die by turnovers as a defense, we need to get off the field. We need to stop the run. Critical third downs, need to do a better job.
"On those days you're not able to get the ball, you bow up on those big time third down situations and get off the field. We weren't able to do that."
Defensive captain Cam Heyward echoed Watt's statement.
"Couple of times we could've got off on third down. Ball up in the air. We didn't convert to get off the field on turnovers. We just got to keep punching at the ball. It's not always going to be as easy what we want, but you have to find ways to get the ball back.
"I think that comes down to trusting the man next you is going to do their job. It's not about just being a super hero and making some extravagant play. Lock in play in and play out. Trust the guy next to you and just get it done."
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward during a game against the New York Jets on Sept. 8, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers were -3 in the turnover department against Los Angeles after being +6 in their win over the Indianapolis Colts last week.
The Steelers are 29th in total offense, and 28th in total defense. If the defense is not creating a slew of turnovers like they did against the Colts, it's been a very poor group. For being the highest-paid defense in the NFL, they certainly have not lived up to expectations.
"Good defenses spend a lot of time on the bench, and we haven't been doing that enough in totality this year," Watt said.
Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky ripped the Steelers' defense on First Take Monday morning.
"There is no team in the NFL right now that is benefiting more off turnovers like the Steelers," Orlovsky said . "If they get turnovers, they play good defensively. They've beaten the Patriots and they've beaten the Colts, because they've gotten 11 turnovers in [those games]. But if they don't, you can get after them. If the Steelers get takeaways, they could beat anybody. If they don't, they can get beat by anybody.
"They're not a dominant defense. They're a takeaway defense."
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Inglewood, Calif.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Outside Linebacker T.J. Watt Sends Blunt Message to the Defense
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