In 2010, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC and advanced to the Super Bowl, but they failed to win the big game. They’ve been unable to reach those same heights since. While the Steelers have remained in the playoff picture, they haven’t won a postseason game in almost 10 years. However, they worked hard this offseason to try to change that. Albert Breer recently laid out the scenario where he thinks Pittsburgh can win the AFC this season.
“I think it would take a lot of things going right,” Breer said via ESPN 1000 Chicago. “And if all those things do go right, then yeah, they can. But I think it would take Aaron playing at a high level, Jalen Ramsey playing at a high level, maybe being an upgrade over Minkah Fitzpatrick, Darius Slay holding up corner, DK Metcalf, that transition being seamless, and then the young line comes together.
“I’m not saying Rodgers made a mistake going there. It’s just the strength of the AFC. The idea that you’re going to have to beat some combination of Baltimore, Buffalo, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Houston. Are they good enough to do that? I think that’s a tough question.”
Breer brings up a lot of moving pieces, but he probably isn’t wrong. The Steelers made a lot of changes to their team. That includes losing their leading passer, rusher and receiver from last year, as well as completely overhauling their quarterback room again. It might be asking too much to expect all their new additions to fit perfectly.
Rodgers might be the biggest question mark. A four-time MVP, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. However, he’s also 41 years old, and he hasn’t looked like the same player recently. While he still played well last year, he didn’t play at a high enough level to elevate the New York Jets.
Could that change with the Steelers? It’s possible, but like Breer says, that depends on other parts of their team, too. Perhaps the most important part of the puzzle is their offensive line. If the Steelers can’t protect Rodgers, then nothing else will matter. That unit is young and unproven. They’ll need to take a step forward in order for Pittsburgh to succeed.
That’s only one side of the ball, too. The Steelers’ defense wasn’t perfect last year, either. Losing Fitzpatrick leaves them with a hole at safety. Ramsey could fill that void, but it’s unclear what his role in Pittsburgh will be. There are also question marks surrounding Slay, who’s 34 years old.
Therefore, like Breer says, it’s tough to see the Steelers winning a loaded AFC this year. However, it’s also not impossible. More surprising things have happened. Maybe Rodgers will turn back the clock and make the Steelers one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL. It’s a longshot, but if they get into the playoffs, they’ll have a chance.
Watch all your favorite Amazon Prime Video Sports broadcasts live and free. Get access to NFL, NBA, NASCAR, WNBA, and more – all included with your Prime membership!