The Pittsburgh Steelers, despite coming off a playoff berth, a 5-1 record against AFC North opponents in 2023, and a combined 12-6 divisional record over the past three seasons, continue to be disrespected by the national media headed into the 2024 season. After Head Coach Mike Tomlin posted his 17th straight non-losing season, and not having to part ways with many key players in the offseason, the organization and their fan base have high expectations about how well the team can do in 2024.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin is showing how much of his success should be tied to Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers are known for boasting top players year after year. Pittsburgh has been home of an MVP in Terry Bradshaw, Defensive Players of the Year, and Walter Payton Men Of The Year. The team may not always win the game's ultimate prize, but know how to show dominance in certain areas. Regardless of the moves made to improve the team, and the success of the Steelers over the past few seasons, the team continues to be undervalued by the media.
In a list building the perfect AFC North Team, Pro Football Focus (PFF) named a position group from every AFC North team except for the Steelers. The list names the following positional groups as members of their dream team:
Building the perfect AFC North team using our unit rankings 👀
— PFF (@PFF) July 6, 2024
Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/twp6Ni4Ajj
Some of these positions are easy to defend. It's hard to say that anyone but the reigning Two-Time MVP in Jackson should headline the divisions quarterbacks, or one of the most dominant offensive lines in the past few seasons reside anywhere but Cleveland. There are simply things that other teams do better, with fewer questions asked. But in the case of the Steelers, who boast arguably the best defense in the NFL, to not have any position groups named the best in their own division is a massive sign of disrespect.
Arron Anastasia / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers Defense stands together during a key matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
The 2024 Steelers Deserve More Respect
The Steelers, like most teams in the NFL, deserve their fair share of doubt and questions during the offseason. It's the lone time of year where every team looks a bit different than the year prior, with unknowns surrounding the newest acquisitions and high overall expectations thrust upon the team. Having these questions is completely fair when evaluating a team. For example, you can't have an accurate judge on the Steelers' receiving room because there have been too many questions surrounding the quarterbacks.
If Russell Wilson or Justin Fields can provide certainty at the position, you get a better gauge at the true talent of the players around them. It's easy to speculate and make a list like PFF has, but you'll never know whether the list is correct until the season begins.
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Steelers George Pickens celebrates 71-yard touchdown against division rival Cleveland Browns in Week 2.
That being said, the Steelers have improved significantly at key positions this offseason, and have created controversy in who has the best "rooms" in the division. The offensive line has been upgraded with rookies who are sure to make an impact on the team right away, earning them the 6th spot ahead of both Baltimore and Cincinnati on PFF's Top 10 Offensive Lines List. There is also argument regarding the Steelers linebacker core and defensive line as they too have been reworked in the past few seasons.
The additions of both Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson this offseason are massive upgrades to the inside linebacker room. Throw in TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith and you get the most productive position group in the entire division. Defensive line, a position that most Steelers fans feel hasn't been addressed during the offseason, earned the fourth spot on their AFC Defensive Line's list. Adding even more curiosity as to why the entire team was left off the list.
The Steelers are far from favorites to win the AFC North in 2024, with several analysts going as far as to say that Tomlin will post his first losing season in his career in 2024. But that being said, it's hard to deny the talent the Steelers' roster has this season. Once the questions surrounding the success of the offense and the contract situations of key players are answered, the Steelers can get back to the two things they have done well over the past few seasons: winning football games and proving the doubters wrong.
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