National Media Not Impressed with Revamped 2024 Steelers
With the NFL season getting under way with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers are set to kick off their 2024 season on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With that being said, media outlets from across the country have predicted how the Steelers season will unfold. It seems like most analysts have the ceiling for the Steelers at 10 wins, while the floor is at six wins. Vegas has the Steelers’ win total at 8.5.
Below is a series of predictions from analysts on how the Steelers season will go in 2024.
David Helman, Fox Sports: 8-9 record
This is going to be a hell of a home stretch in Pittsburgh. The early weeks look fairly manageable for a team that reached the playoffs last year, but the fun really starts after the Nov. 3 bye week. The Steelers play all six division games, not to mention big-time matchups against the Eagles and Chiefs, in the second half of the season. Eight straight games against teams that finished with a winning record in 2023 is a daunting obstacle for Russell Wilson if he’s going to help Mike Tomlin achieve another winning record.
Maurice Moton, Bleacher Report: 10-7 record
“In 2024, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense may be able to pull its own weight and put pressure on opponents to keep pace on the scoreboard,” Moton stated. “If star defensive playmakers T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick avoid injuries, the Steelers may field their most balanced squad in years.”
Bob Rose, Sports Illustrated: last in AFC North, miss playoffs
“The Steelers also have a defense that can shut down any opponent. It’ll be Pittsburgh’s offense, particularly quarterback, that keeps the Steelers from the playoffs and might result in Mike Tomlin’s first career losing season,” Rose wrote. “All four of these teams have the defense to win this division. Burrow and Lamar Jackson’s athleticism gives Cincinnati and Baltimore the edge over Cleveland and Pittsburgh.”
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: 10-7 record, 3rd in AFC North, lose to Texans in AFC Wild Card round
“Mike Tomlin and the Steelers having a winning record is a lock, and their defense plus much better QB options say playoffs, too,” Iyer wrote.
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: 6-11 record
“The quarterback concerns are pretty big in Pittsburgh. The Steelers upgraded to Russell Wilson/Justin Fields, but Wilson hasn’t even been on the field during much of training camp. That throws things into severe flux at the position. Fields could be a fantasy darling, but I don’t know if his athletic style of quarterbacking will necessarily translate to a bunch of wins. The departure of Diontae Johnson means the Steelers are lacking on the wide receiver depth chart,” Brandon stated. “George Pickens has unlimited upside with his skillset. After him, there was buzz about Van Jefferson as their WR2, although Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson have made some interesting noise in training camp. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are physical runners, and I tend to think an Arthur Smith offense is going to feature them heavily. I don’t expect this to be an explosive unit. Defensively, if the Steelers are the top-five unit they can be, this might end up looking like a foolish projection. Fifteen-plus games of T.J. Watt is an absolute must because of how this defense drops off when he’s out of the lineup.”
Bryan DeArdo, CBS Sports: Most Underrated Team
“Bet against Pittsburgh at your own risk. This team is considerably better than the one that won 10 games last year, especially on offense with the arrival of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Pittsburgh’s success will largely come down to Russell Wilson and whether or not the Steelers’ new-look offense can adequately complement what shold be a top-five defense, led by T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and former Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Queen
Chris Halicke, DK Pittsburgh Sports: 9-8 record
“A 9-8 finish isn’t good enough to make it to the playoffs in the AFC. It may not even be good enough to avoid last place in the AFC North. So, no, I don’t have the Steelers snapping their drought of playoff wins,” Halicke said. “I do think this roster is better than what it was a season ago when they finished 10-7. And, they should have won more games than that. However, this schedule is as brutal as can be. I have questions about this offense’s ceiling, and there’s a lot to bank on regarding the defense staying healthy.”
Ryan Reynolds, The 33rd Team: 10-7 record, 3rd in AFC North, miss playoffs
“In these predictions, the Dolphins, Steelers and Browns have winning seasons but miss the playoffs,” Reynolds wrote. “The AFC North will be the best division in football entering 2024.”
Noah Camras, Newsweek: 7-10 record, last in AFC North
“The AFC North also has four teams with playoff aspirations in 2024, but only two will make it. Every single divisional matchup will not only have major playoff implications — they’ll also feel like playoff games,” Camras wrote.
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