PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is a frustrated and embarrassed group after back-to-back losses against Miami and New England.

One day after defensive end Cameron Heyward said he felt like his defensive teammates quit during Sunday’s home loss against New England, defensive coordinator Keith Butler disagreed.

Regardless, the Steelers hope to solve their problems stopping the run and rushing the passer, all while taking a break to recover from injury during the team’s upcoming bye week.

“We have to play harder, we have to play more physical,” Butler said on Tuesday. “I think we’re capable of playing harder and more physical, but I don’t think we quit by any means.

“It’s frustrating and we’re all frustrated at this point in time,” Butler said.

Heyward missed the first two games of his career with a hamstring injury during the Steelers’ most recent losses against Miami and New England. He wasn’t happy with his defensive teammates after the Steelers kicked a field goal that cut the Patriots’ lead to 20-16. New England needed just three minutes to answer with a six-play, 75-yard drive, as a 37-yard strike to an open Rob Gronkowski set up LeGarrette Blount’s second touchdown.

“It was like we just quit,” Heyward said. “I don’t mean to say that lightly, but I feel like we had so many opportunities out there. I felt like after that, it was almost like the wind got pushed out of us.”

Linebacker Lawrence Timmons also feels the defense can do better.

“That’s not our best performance,” said Timmons, a 10-year veteran. “That’s definitely not a strong showing by us. That’s not a display of who we are.”

Miami’s Jay Ajayi rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers two weeks ago. Ajayi was the sixth in history and first since Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor in 2000 to rush for more than 200 yards against the Steelers.

Blount followed it up with a 127-yard, two-touchdown effort for the Patriots a week later, as Pittsburgh allowed close to 400 yards rushing in back-to-back weeks.