The Pittsburgh Steelers have not finished last in their division since the 1988 NFL season. That was so long ago that the team was still competing in the AFC Central division, which doesn't exist anymore. Since the construction of the AFC North, the Steelers have yet to finish last. Some NFL insiders are predicting that this is the year the streak is broken, that the Steelers aren't good enough to compete in the AFC North. Dan Orlovsky believes the Steelers do not have enough talent to keep up with the rest of the AFC North, while Stephen A. Smith thinks the Steelers will succeed as long as TJ Watt is on the field.
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TJ Watt during the season opener against the Buffalo Bills in 2021.
In a segment on ESPN's First Take, a question was posed asking the hosts whether or not the Steelers will finish last in the AFC North. The question didn't ask which team would finish last, it specifically suggested that the Steelers would not be as successful as the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, or Cincinnati Bengals this season. Smith held his ground and said the season is on Watt's shoulders. As long as he stays healthy, he is good enough to keep the Steelers out of last place.
"Here's all I want, please TJ Watt don't get hurt. Because when that brother is on the field, special things happen for the Pittsburgh Steelers on the defensive side of the ball. It is just that simple, TJ Watt, that's what it's all about. If he is healthy and on that football field ain't not way in hell all three teams in the AFC North are gonna be ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Somebody is going to fall."
Smith is absolutely correct. The difference in the way the Steelers defense plays when Watt is on the field compared to when he is not is night and day. Watt missed seven full games during the 2022 NFL season, and was never fully healthy upon his return, but still managed to put together 5.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 39 tackles, and a forced fumble. The difference is seen in how the team performs when he is not playing compared to when he is.
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The Steelers defense celebrates in a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve, 2022 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
In the 11 games that Watt has missed in his career, the Steelers have gone a horrible 1-10. Opponents average almost a full seven points more when facing a Watt-less Steelers defense. The Steelers offense also seems to perform worse with Watt out, and they average seven less points a game. This shows the impact Watt has on a game, and why it is so crucial for the Steelers that he finds his way back to full health.
Orlovsky Has Zero Faith In The Steelers
In response to what Smith said about Watt and how the Steelers are a much different team with him healthy, Orlovsky not only suggested that the Steelers would finish last in the division, but he also went onto to talk down on every position group of the Steelers. He went on a rant slamming the Steelers and saying Pittsburgh doesn't do anything on the field better than any other team in the AFC North, while answering whether or not the Steelers will finish last.
"I say yes, they do. Outside of Mike Tomlin, I don't know if there is a person or a unit that they are better than everyone else in their division. TJ Watt maybe, but Cleveland has Myles Garrett. Minkah Fitzpatrick could be in that conversation. But they're not better up front than anyone else in their division, they don't have better skill group players than everybody else in their division, they're not better at quarterback than everyone else in the division, defensively Baltimore is just as good and if not better than them."
It seems like Orlovsky just doesn't want to have faith in the Steelers this season. If he can't fully admit that Minkah Fitzpatrick is the best safety in the AFC North, let alone the entire NFL, then I don't know if what he says has any credibility. Watt and Myles Garrett were both drafted in the first round of the same year, and almost every stat points in Watt's favor despite missing 11 games.
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Steelers' Minkah Fitzpatrick leaps high for interception.
While it is understandable that nothing the Steelers have on the offensive side of the ball is as good as what the Bengals or Ravens have, the Steelers offense is full of young players that are continuing to develop. This is something Orlovsky failed to mention. Pittsburgh went 9-8 last season with a rookie quarterback starting for most of the year, and their best player suffering an injury in Week 1, and still didn't finish last in the division. To suggest that they won't show improvement this season is lunacy.
Where do you think the Steelers will rank in the AFC North, Steeler Nation? Comment below!
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