Team Overview
The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering their 92nd season in the NFL, with Mike Tomlin at the helm for his 18th year as head coach. After a 10-7 record in the previous season, the Steelers aim to build on that success and make a deeper playoff run. The team has made significant roster changes, including acquiring veteran quarterback Russell Wilson and young talent Justin Fields, to bolster their chances in the competitive AFC North.
The Steelers have undergone a substantial transformation in their roster during the offseason. Key additions include quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, linebacker Patrick Queen, and cornerback Donte Jackson. The team also focused on strengthening their offensive line through the draft, selecting tackle Troy Fautanu and center Zach Frazier with their early picks[6]. Despite losing key players like Kenny Pickett and Diontae Johnson, the Steelers are optimistic about their revamped squad’s potential.
Offensive Line Analysis
Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been a focal point of their offseason strategy. The team invested heavily in the draft, selecting three linemen in the first four rounds. This includes Troy Fautanu, who is expected to compete for a starting tackle position, and Zach Frazier, who has a clear path to becoming the starting center. The Steelers aim to improve their offensive line’s physicality and consistency, which should help in establishing a strong ground game.
Defensive Line Analysis
The Steelers’ defensive line remains one of their strengths, anchored by T.J. Watt, who is a consistent force in pass-rushing. Alex Highsmith complements Watt on the opposite side, forming a formidable duo. While Cameron Heyward’s performance showed signs of aging last season, the overall unit is ranked eighth in the league, indicating a solid defensive front that can pressure opposing quarterbacks effectively.
2024 NFL Season
Week 8 Review – vs. NY Giants
The Steelers prepared for a quiet week, receiving the second-worst team in the Conference, and everything went according to plan. The locals have the second-best defense of the Conference, and against the worst attack, it was a recipe for disaster for the NY-based franchise. However, it wasn’t a great game by any means. Just three TDs between the two teams in a sea of field goals. In fact, the match was pretty balanced, with the locals having just 30 more total yards achieved.
Now, the team is preparing to receive its bye week in a good mood.
Week 7 Review – vs. New York Jets
The Steelers are getting rid of the demons from the beginning of the season as their offense started to carburate. After losing two games in a row, they began to score more than 30 points regularly and thus are looking like real contenders. Against the Jets, the rushing game prevailed, with Najee Harris standing out with 21 carries.
They will participate in the next edition of Monday Night Football against a horrible team of the Giants, so things are looking good.
Week 6 Review – vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Steelers managed to pull the chestnuts out of the fire just in time to prevent their third straight loss. They did so using their best asset, their defense, the fourth-best in the entire NFL in points allowed per game. On a night where Chirs Boswell’s precise kicks did most of the job, Justin Fields managed to cover his terrible passing game that day with a couple of TDs in the run. Still, that was not enough to convince the directives, and it was decided, he will go to the Tennessee Titans.
Russell Wilson will recover his starting spot from next week onwards as they face another manageable challenge against the Jets. A 5-2 record should put their season on track for a quiet qualification to the postseason.
Week 5 Review – vs. Dallas Cowboys
The surprising loss against the Colts seems to have broken the delicate balance that existed in this team of the Steelers. They are still the third-best defense in the league, but the offense isn’t capable of getting the amends when they get breached. They did a somewhat decent job controlling Prescott, holding him to only two touchdown passes and the same number of interceptions for 352 aerial yards. However, Justin Fields threw for the same number of touchdowns in just 15 effective passes and 131 passing yards. Positive, talking about effectiveness, but still poor numbers.
There is nothing to be worried about as they are still fifth in the conference, but it’s clear that the Steelers have key deficiencies in sensible areas and, if they don’t find a solution, their great start of the season could become a fluke quickly.
Week 4 Review – vs. Indianapolis Colts
In the biggest surprise of the weekend, the Steelers fell while visiting Indianapolis after their remarkable defense was unable to contain the locals. The first quarter was a total disaster for Pittsburgh, as they were 14-0 down already, conceding more points in that period than in its three previous games. It was a weird game, as Justin Fields had to carry all the team weight at his back, being the leader in passing and rushing yards. He made one TD pass and scored two TDs on the rush.
That game highlighted one of the Steelers’ deficiencies, and that is the lack of high-level companionship for Fields. In the previous games, their world-class defense allowed them to ignore that fact, but when it’s not the case, the team struggles as the QB isn’t capable of doing everything on his own. Their next challenge will be against the Cowboys, and they must show that their amazing start was not a fluke.
Week 3 Review – vs. the LA Chargers
The Steelers are on a rampage and they achieved their best start to a season in many years. Justin Fields looks to be in MVP contention after another magnificent game against the Chargers with 25/32 passes, 245 yards, 1 TD, and 1 interception. After a slow start to the match, Pittsburg put things back on track in the second quarter commanded by the QB in the company of sharp Chris Boswell kicks.
However, the thing to praise about this team has to be the defense. Only 26 points conceded in three games make us think there will be some Pro Bowl contenders in that backline.
Their next challenge comes against the Colts, and it’s fair to say that they won’t have a remarkable challenge in the regular season until their December 25 clash with the Chiefs. Still, teams like the Eagles and Ravens (both on the schedule) could wake up at any given time, so the Steelers must take their chances against the lower competition they have up front. Still, a second consecutive postseason participation is almost assured.
Week 2 Review – vs. the Denver Broncos
The Steelers keep being a low-scoring team, barely surpassing the 30-point line in two games. However, their excellent defense keeps them a force to be reckoned with. They prevented the Broncos from scoring in the entire first three quarters, and the line anchored by T.J. Watt was practically impenetrable until they decided that the game was already over.
If they can be more effective on the attack, the Steelers could emerge as Dark Horse contenders for the Super Bowl. However, their next challenge will be much more of a test against the energic LA Chargers.
Week 1 Review – vs. the Atlanta Falcons
The Steelers got an excellent 10-18 win over the Falcons with an excellent defensive display in the last two quarters, not allowing the locals to score. That is good news after the injury to starting QB Russell Wilson, which would be a blow to any NFL team. Deputy Justin Fields was solid, although unimpressive, while Pittsburgh got the upper hand last Sunday relaying in a great rushing game.
Their next challenge will be against the Broncos, who lost in a tight game against the Seahawks in Seattle. Justin Fields is expected to start again, and he hopes to keep his level and, maybe, challenge Wilson in the future, injured or not.
Odds to Win Division and Super Bowl
Odds to Win AFC North: The Steelers are currently listed at +800 to win the AFC North, indicating they are not the favorites but still have a competitive chance in a tough division.
Odds to Win the Super Bowl: With odds at +5000, the Steelers are considered long shots for the Super Bowl, ranking 18th in the league. This reflects a 2% chance of winning the championship.
Predictions
Overall Record: The Steelers are projected to finish the season with a 9-8 record, placing them fourth in the AFC North. This prediction considers the team’s challenging schedule and the recent roster changes.
Playoff Chances: With a 35% chance to make the playoffs, the Steelers are seen as a fringe playoff team. Their success will largely depend on the performance of their new quarterbacks and the revamped offensive line.
Super Bowl Chances: Given their current odds and the competitive landscape of the AFC, the Steelers’ chances of winning the Super Bowl remain slim. However, if Russell Wilson can regain his form and the defense performs at a high level, they could exceed expectations.
In conclusion, while the Pittsburgh Steelers face an uphill battle in the 2024/2025 NFL season, their strategic offseason moves and strong coaching could position them as a surprise contender in the AFC. Their performance will hinge on the effectiveness of their new acquisitions and the ability to navigate a challenging schedule.
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Gambyl Nation Editorial Team: Author
The Gambyl Nation Editorial team are made up of industry betting professionals and sports fans from across North America, Latin America and South America.
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