PITTSBURGH — "They're the best defense I've ever seen." — DK Metcalf

"I feel like I'm one of the better cover linebackers in the world, to be honest." — Payton Wilson

"I think we can be a top-five defense in this league — maybe number one." — DeShon Elliott

"We can match up and play man to man versus anyone." — Mike Tomlin.

"I feel like it's going to be a hard matchup for any offense to go against three elite DBs that we have." — Joey Porter Jr., apparently including himself in that equation.

Think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves here? At this rate, somebody's liable to compare the Steelers defense to the '85 Bears before training camp is out.

I expect the somewhat reconfigured unit to play well early in the season. It often does. It has rattled Josh Allen and Joe Burrow in early-season games in recent years. It started great last season, at least before Joe Flacco and Dak Prescott came along. And the competition is light for at least a month.

It's the finishing kick I wonder about — and the last time a Steelers defense played even a decent playoff game was nine years ago against Alex Smith.

Since then, it has contributed heavily to the team's 0-5 playoff mark by surrendering an average of 38 points and nearly 400 yards per game.

The only guy making sense around here is Cam Heyward, who told reporters Tuesday, "To be the No. 1 defense, it can't just be from Week 1 through Week 7. It's got to be a continued grind, and we've got to be, at the end of the season, playing our best football."

Yes, and the last time we saw the highly compensated Steelers defense, it was setting all the wrong kinds of standards again. It allowed a franchise postseason record of 299 yards rushing to the Baltimore Ravens while television analyst Kirk Herbstreit wondered if the players were even trying. It marked the first time in 12 years any team gave up that many rushing yards in a playoff game.

In other words, it was a historical embarrassment. Which leads to a question: Is this really the right time to be talking so tough?

At least they didn't give up 40 points to Baltimore, although the Steelers of this era do hold the NFL's postseason record of most consecutive games (three) giving up at least that many.

T.J. Watt, a guaranteed Hall of Famer, is in danger of becoming this era's Dick Butkus: a legendary player who never wins a playoff game. Heyward, also with a chance to land in Canton, has been part of one playoff win — a gift from Vontaze Burfict and Pac Man Jones.

Don't blame Watt and Heyward, but the fact of the matter is that the modern-day Steelers defense has failed its predecessors. Nothing has felt quite the same since losing to a guy named Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl 15 years ago.

The Polamalu-Farrior-Porter-Hampton-Harrison defenses — like their forefathers of the '70s — saved some of their best ball for January. That month barely exists for this group, which again is easily the highest-paid defense in football at around $170 million.

The last time Tomlin sounded so boastful about his defense was 2022, when he said he expected it to be "great" and "dominant." That was before Jacoby Brissett went 21 for 31 for 220 yards, two touchdowns — and no picks in Game 3 — and Zach Wilson orchestrated two long fourth-quarter touchdown drives in Game 4.

Yes, Watt was injured in the opener, but really good defenses — like the 1995 group that made the Super Bowl without Rod Woodson — find a way.

I can certainly see where the optimism originates, but I also see plenty of question marks. Let's consider each with a quick player-by-player look, starting with a defensive line that better perform, considering the lack of depth behind it ...

Defensive line

Derrick Harmon: Immense pedigree, but also a rookie.

Keeanu Benton: Wildly talented, but failed to make expected leap last season.

Heyward: Brilliant for most of age-35 season, but wasn't himself down the stretch; can he find finishing kick at 36?

Linebackers

Alex Highsmith: Strong overall player, but hasn't matched 2022 output and is dealing with another injury.

Payton Wilson: Really is a good cover linebacker, but how will he fare full-time against the run?

Patrick Queen: Had some outstanding moments but did not live up to free-agent deal.

Watt: Again a DPOY candidate, but having trouble finishing seasons — injured for playoffs two years ago, seemed compromised during quiet stretch run last season.

Secondary

Porter Jr.: Looks great some weeks, but rated poorly overall last season and through two years has 18 penalties against two interceptions. That's not elite.

Darius Slay: Still a good cover guy, hopefully, but had no interceptions last season and might be taking last run at age 34.

Jalen Ramsey: Still productive and versatile at age 30, but his Dolphins tenure didn't end well, and this is team No. 4.

DeShon Elliott: Great against the run, not great against the pass.

Juan Thornhill: Decent player when he's on the field. Wasn't on the field much in Cleveland.

What's it all add up to? Well, $170 million for one thing. And hopefully something in January.

How about we talk then?

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