The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 official schedule has been revealed, and they will be facing the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is excited for the primetime holiday showdown against the Steelers. However, he believes they are a much better football team than pundits are giving them credit for.
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Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, and brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce (62), exchange jerseys after their 2017 game in Kansas City.
His brother, Jason Kelce, has also been vocal about the Steelers over the years. Jason admitted he was a Steelers fan because of Jerome Bettis. However, he became a Cleveland Browns fan when they drafted Tim Couch. Although he is no longer a Steelers fan, he isn't shy about praising them, much like his brother Travis.
The Kelce brothers recently released a new episode of their popular podcast, New Heights. During the episode, they broke down the Chiefs' schedule, and the Steelers naturally came up as they will be facing off in a big holiday game aired on Netflix. Travis was quick to admit that he thinks the Steelers' new addition of Russell Wilson makes them an interesting team.
“You throw Danger Russ on the Steelers and all of the sudden they are a very intriguing football team.”
Wilson joined the Steelers after the 2023 season ended, signing a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. His addition has generated a lot of intrigue and excitement in the Steel City. Additionally, the Steelers were able to trade for another quarterback, Justin Fields. During the podcast, Jason interrupted Travis to remind him not to count out Fields. Jason also shared his thoughts on why he believes the Steelers have always been a solid football team.
“They’re in all the games because their defense is so good. As long as TJ Watt is healthy, Cam Heyward, as long as those guys are out there they’re going to be in most of the games. Mike Tomlin, they’re going to have opportunities. It’s always tough to come out of the AFC North.”
As Jason pointed out, the AFC North is currently considered the best division in football. The Steelers will face all their division opponents towards the end of the year. It's a stacked division, and the end of the 2024 season will be a gauntlet for the Steelers.
Hearing Jason and Travis speak about the Steelers is always interesting. The two are among the greatest players ever at their positions. Jason recently retired, while Travis has signed an extension with the Chiefs, aiming for a three-peat at the Super Bowl in 2024. The Chiefs playing against the Steelers on Christmas Day will be a tough challenge for Pittsburgh. However, Travis believes they have a chance.
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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce runs with the ball in a game against the Steelers.
During the 2023 season, the Steelers' offense struggled significantly, ranking among the worst in the league. They faced challenges under various quarterbacks, and at the end of the season, they decided to clean house at the position. They brought in Wilson and traded for Fields. Wilson is currently slated as the starter, with the position being his to lose. Fields will have a chance to compete, but unless Wilson plays himself out of the job, he is expected to remain the starter for the entire 2024 season. Pundits speculate that Fields might eventually impress the Steelers' coaching staff and win the starting job, making it a storyline to watch throughout the year.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Makes Pittsburgh A Contender In 2024
Wilson joins the Steelers after two challenging seasons with the Denver Broncos. However, during the 2023 season, Wilson managed to beat the Chiefs and threw for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. In contrast, the Steelers' quarterbacks combined for just 13 passing touchdowns last season. Despite being benched towards the end of the season after refusing to rework his contract, Wilson's individual performance still outshined the Steelers' entire quarterback roster by double.
Gabriel Christus
Former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson rolls out with the football.
Wilson will join a much-improved situation in Pittsburgh. The offense has gotten better, the defense has improved, and so have the special teams. With the system playing in Wilson's favor, the 2024 season presents a significant opportunity for him to win over Steeler Nation and help end the team's playoff drought. If he can bring the level of production he had in Denver to Pittsburgh, the Steelers will be well-positioned for success, just as the Kelce brothers predicted.
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