New beginnings usually call for a regression in most NFL teams. The New England Patriots are a prime example of this. For 20 years, the Patriots had the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, as their leader. Never were they a sub .500 team. Only once in his career, the Patriots won less than 10 games in a season. That all changed in 2020. The Patriots first season without Brady resulted in a record below .500 for the first time in over 20 years. The same cannot be said of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to 18 straight seasons at .500 or better. The first season without Big Ben was different than that of the Patriots. Pittsburgh struggled to get it together early in the 2022 season. They began at 1-4 and would go to 3-7. It turned better, as they went 6-1 in their last seven games to finish their season at 9-8. This made the Steelers the only team in history to have a .500 season or better after the loss of a quarterback who never had a losing season in a 15+ year career. Big Ben and Brady began their careers with their respective franchises. Their long careers never had the blemish of a losing season. With such a massive change to the franchise personnel, it would seem almost impossible to not regress for at least one year if not multiple.
Offense Looks Strong
The latest version of the Steeler franchise contains weapons on both sides of the ball. Kenny Pickett proved to be a fantastic quarterback in his rookie year. He had tough shoes to fill replacing Big Ben. Najee Harris shined at running back last year, showing off his multi-dimensional talents: running, catching, and blocking. He is without a doubt giving 110 percent each and every time he steps on the gridiron. The fantastic duo of Diontae Johnson and George Pickens return, while gaining former pro bowler Allen Robinson II. The Steelers have been a farm for top-level receivers in the recent past and have lost a few via trades. That hasn’t stopped the new crop of wide-outs from excelling. Pat Freiermuth is a fan-favorite tight-end and has shined in his role. The Steelers got a steal in TE Darnell Washington this draft to round out the offense.
The Steelers’ defense is always top-level. The return of some of the best talent in the NFL will be a force to reckon with. The additions of Larry Ogunjobi and Joey Porter Jr. will fill any gaps they may have had and allow the Steelers to have back-ups for injuries. The defense is responsible for the team’s greatness throughout its history. A few losses from injuries held the Steelers back from reaching the Super Bowl for the ninth time. The defense sets up the offense in Pittsburgh’s game. When the defense has holes in it, teams take advantage on both sides of the ball. A healthy Steeler defense early in the season will be needed to carry them through September.
First Two Games Will Be a Test
The early schedule has them opening up against the Super Bowl runner-up 49ers. The division comes right to them in game two versus the Browns. The AFC North has been very competitive in the past years and these rivalries may just be the toughest in the league. The possibility of three teams from the north making the post-season this year seems high.
One thing is certain. Coach Mike Tomlin does not want to see the streak end. No losing seasons since he has been coach put him in a group that does not have many members. He could easily have high-tailed it out of there when Ben retired. Instead, he stayed, which is what the Steeler franchise is all about. It is not a revolving door of players or coaches. That is what makes the Pittsburgh Steelers so special in all of sports. Expect the black and gold to continue their winning ways and finish at 11-6 and another playoff berth.
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