Both the losses the Steelers have suffered have shown the defense wearing down after only giving up one touchdown in the first half and then surrendering 30 or more points by the end of the game. It wasn't a complete collapse in the sense that the defense did not know where to go or what to do, but more of how a defense that has to be out there for around 70 plays in a game.
The defense was missing both its best players in Cameron Heyward and Ryan Shazier, but it still had its chances with Vince Williams and the rookie Javon Hargrave with a rotation that included Ricardo Matthews and occasionally Dan McCullers. Though they allowed Jay Ajayi to run for 204 yards, most of that came in the second half, as the defense saw fatigue kick in and more breakdowns occur.
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