Kirk Herbstreit Picks The Steelers As A "Sneaky Team" To Win The AFC North

The Pittsburgh Steelers have dominated the AFC North since its inception in 2002. Now with a new offensive coordinator, a rebuilding offensive line, and a young offense, the Steelers have fallen from their usual first-place finishes. In 2023, the landscape of the AFC North has greatly shifted, now favoring the Cincinnati Bengals led by young superstars Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. The Baltimore Ravens have also been in tight competition, with former MVP Lamar Jackson leading the way. The AFC North has gotten tougher over the years, and the Steelers need to develop. 

In a recent episode on The Pat McAfee Show, Kirk Herbstreit was a guest. Herbstreit had a lot to say about the Steelers, and all of it was confidence and praise for the new-look team. He discussed that people aren't used to seeing the Steelers as a second or third-place team, since they've been so dominant in the AFC North's history. But with a high-powered division in which any team can be a contender, it's hard to single one out as a clear-cut winner. 

Herbstreit also emphasized that if Kenny Pickett remains consistent, the Steelers will be a very hard team to beat, along with the team as a whole staying healthy. The Steelers have been quietly rebuilding their entire offense, and Herbstreit has taken notice. 

"I think the Steelers could be kind of a sneaky team, a forgotten team. People don't talk much about them. Pickett now has a year under his belt, they've got better around him. I think the Steelers could be a team to look out for."

Over the past two years, the Steelers have been constantly overshadowed by the Bengals and Ravens, as they both have made the playoffs more recently than Pittsburgh. With two elite quarterbacks in the division to compete with, the Steelers will always have an uphill battle. Pittsburgh has made it clear that they're not looking for a long-haul rebuild, they want to be able to compete as fast as possible. and with a reinvigorated offense and a bolstered defense, they look in position to do just that. 

Steelers' Offseason Improvements

Pittsburgh has been very active both in the 2023 NFL Draft and in the offseason, and it's about time to see if those moves will prove worthy in the regular season. The Steelers drafted two offensive linemen to help with their thinning squad: Broderick Jones (pick 14) and Spencer Anderson (pick 251). The Steelers also struck gold in one of the later rounds, picking up rookie sensation Nick Herbig in the fourth round at linebacker. The Steelers also added veterans Patrick Peterson and Allen Robinson II in the 2023 offseason to gain some experience. Joey Porter Jr. was also a huge pick for Pittsburgh taken at pick 32, further aiding an already strong defensive back room. 

Herbstreit Thinks the Steelers are Complete

Herbstreit noticed that in the past couple of years, the Steelers have been lacking in certain positions. Pittsburgh has always been known for its stifling defense, and that held true through any rebuilding. But with the departure of key offensive linemen along with franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers were left with many question marks on offense. Now with a rebuilt offensive line, Pickett, running back Najee Harris, breakout wide receiver George Pickens, and a healthy, complete defense, the Steelers are in good hands. Herbstreit is confident all the pieces are fitting together. 

"Najee has another year under his belt, the defense is finally healthy. It's fun to look for those teams that could be a surprise."

Regardless of how good the Steelers look on the practice field, they need to execute in-stadium, and some players might not be up to that task. All players need to be on their A-game, rookies and veterans alike. This is a young, confident Steelers team that could make a lot of noise if they continue what they've shown in practice and in the preseason thus far. Pittsburgh has some big expectations this year, and all the players are excited to deliver.

How do you think the Steelers will perform this year? Are they a sneaky team to win the AFC North? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

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