Ok. The 90th season anniversary last year in 2022 wasn’t amazing. 9-8 overall for the Pittsburgh Steelers represented mediocrity and the third-place spot in the AFC North just rubbed it in. Losing out on the playoffs to the Baltimore Ravens by 0.029 win percentage was really unfortunate. However, there are five key reasons why 2023 is going to be much better, even if the current Vegas odds aren't quite expecting a Super Bowl win at this stage.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation.com (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The pressure is on Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett to take a step forward in 2023 in the loaded AFC.
New Players In
Team quality peaks and troughs in the NFL. The beauty of the NFL Draft is that every team gets the chance to pick up the new and most exciting talent and improve their team. Especially the franchises that are coming off poor seasons. While the Steelers didn’t qualify for a lot of high-end picks automatically, they did acquire a few via trades.
Offensive tackle, Broderick Jones looks like a very handy player to help bolster their offense. As a two-time CFP National Champion at Georgia, he comes in with high expectations to help the Steelers get better quickly. Keeanu Benton also joins the defense having impressed with Wisconsin. Allen Robinson will also turn out for the Steelers, as he left the Los Angeles Rams via trade.
Maybe the most interesting acquisition is the return of the Porter name to the Steelers. Joey Porter Jr., son of the original Joey Porter, has been drafted by the Steelers, much like his father was in the 1999 NFL Draft. Whether or not this 22-year-old cornerback will be able to win the Super Bowl like his dad did in 2006 remains to be seen, but the lineage is certainly heartwarming.
Scheduling
If you get a decent run of games, then it can drastically alter your season. Statistically, Pittsburgh has the sixth easiest schedule throughout the entirety of the NFL. Sure, they have to win these games, but it is such an incentive to do well. Especially when all of their AFC North competitors have much harder schedules. The Cincinnati Bengals have the worst fixture set on paper as it ranks 20th in the league (out of 32) in terms of desirability.
It's this kind of element which could get a bit of luck along the way, and pave a path to the Super Bowl. Their Vegas Odds to win the AFC and play in the Super Bowl are around +3000 at this stage, but that will change throughout the season and you can find updates from the most reliable Vegas Odds from this site.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens lines up in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2022 season.
T.J. Watt is Back to Full Health
When T.J. Watt is playing at full capacity, Pittsburgh is a different breed of animal. A ferocious defensive unit led by the man who stormed to the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2021. With complicating health issues throughout 2022, he struggled to be at the apex of his game and even sat a few out.
The early reports now are that he’s back, fully fit, and ready to play at the top level. Even if he’s not at DPOY form again, he certainly can’t be much worse than last year where he managed just 5.5 sacks – less than his rookie year!
Steelers Pro-Actively Making Kenny Pickett the Franchise QB
Franchise QBs are the most marketable players in the sport. Even if your franchise isn’t playing well, at least you can make some money by having a popular QB. Ben Roethlisberger commanded that position and moniker from 2004 to his retirement in 2021. It looks like for all accounts, the Steelers want to make Kenny Pickett the new star.
This has meant additional training sessions with new wide receiver teammate, Allen Robinson, and just generally pushing Pickett to the front of all Steelers activity. As a result, he’s been swamped by some NFL Fantasy players as one of the most selected players in the build-up to the 2023 season.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) meets with the media after practice at the team's South Side facility in Pittsburgh, PA.
Irish Marketing
While not a direct factor to help with the on-field results, the Pittsburgh Steelers could benefit from some long-term objectives by commercially marketing themselves to Irish NFL fans. Firstly, the team is owned by an Irish-American family giving it immediate ties to the Emerald Isle.
Currently, if fans from Dublin and other Irish cities want to see NFL live, it’s often a mad dash to get tickets to the game played at Wembley or Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While still closer than the US, it’s hardly convenient. Irish fans will love the fact that a team is dedicating themselves to playing exclusively in Ireland in their international games.
