Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered their first loss of the season against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. The 33-17 defeat wasn’t just about scoreboard damage. It also left the team dealing with disciplinary fallout.

Linebacker Patrick Queen delivered one of the game’s most debated moments when he leveled Sam Darnold with a high hit late in the first half.

The blow, which caught the quarterback in the head and neck area, wasn’t flagged on the field. But the NFL stepped in after review, handing Queen a $17,389 fine.

For Darnold, it was a welcome reminder that even his first touchdown pass as Seattle’s starter came under fire.

From the television angle, the hit looked like a textbook case of roughing the passer.

Horton’s touchdown would have nullified any flag anyway. But the refs still should’ve thrown.

Instead, it became another clip in the never-ending reel of “where’s the line” when it comes to defending quarterbacks. And for Queen, whose physicality is part of what makes him so valuable, it served as a reminder of how costly an aggressive split-second decision can be.

The NFL has made clear in recent years that head and neck contact is not negotiable, tightening the margins defenders operate in.

Queen’s reputation as a fast, instinctive tackler wasn’t undone in a single play, but the fine put a spotlight on the balancing act between ferocity and control. Even in what was otherwise a clean game, that single moment drew the sharpest headlines.

For Pittsburgh, it’s not just about the fine — it’s about optics, discipline, and the direction of a defense still under construction.

And that’s where Tomlin comes in, steering the narrative back to the bigger picture: he wants the Steel City to put faith in this defense.

Mike Tomlin’s promise

The loss to Seattle wasn’t just another dent in the record. It exposed Pittsburgh’s defense as a unit still searching for its identity.

Two weeks in, the Steelers have given up 63 points, a number that feels jarring for a franchise that built its reputation on toughness and discipline. Maybe it’s about time they look towards their rookie DL, Derrick Harmon.

He has already expressed eagerness to hit the ground running. “If my number’s called, I’m ready to go.”

From leaky run defense to breakdowns in coverage, the cracks are showing in ways that Tomlin’s teams usually don’t allow.

Kenneth Walker Jr. gashed them for over 100 yards on the ground, and Sam Darnold picked apart the secondary for nearly 300 yards through the air.

Add Aaron Rodgers’ uneven outing into the mix, 18-33 attempts for 203 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions… And the blueprint for how quickly games can get away from this team becomes clear.

Tomlin didn’t sugarcoat it after the game.

“We just got to be better, and we will be.”

But he also wants Pittsburgh to rally behind the team. Don’t lose hope. Alas, the only problem is that the Steel City has heard similar promises in the recent past. And a 2-6 playoff record since 2016.