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The Morning After: Jalen Ramsey is the glue to the Steelers’ defense

Jalen Ramsey cemented his status as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive cornerstone with a career-high performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, delivering 10 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks—including a game-sealing sack on fourth-and-eight in overtime to clinch a 26-19 victory. The future Hall of Famer played through a broken wrist suffered in Week 1, showcasing his resilience and versatility as the team’s STAR role player.

His eight run stops tie him for the league lead among cornerbacks, while his two sacks rank second among all defensive backs, underscoring his ability to disrupt offenses in multiple ways. Despite missing no games this season, Ramsey’s dominance has evolved from his earlier man-to-man lockdown days, proving he remains a pivotal force in Pittsburgh’s top-10 defense against the pass.

Jamel Dean also stepped up in his debut season with the Steelers, recording six pass breakups—a franchise single-game record—and allowing just three catches on 11 targets, matching teammate Asante Samuel Jr.’s efficiency. Dean’s interception and strong coverage helped the Steelers rank among the league’s best in pass defense, fulfilling the offseason hopes of forming a formidable cornerback duo with Joey Porter, now departed.

The duo’s combined impact has been critical as Pittsburgh ties for the AFC North lead, with Ramsey and Dean leading the charge on both sides of the ball.

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