How Have 3-0 Teams Like Steelers Fared Historically?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have kicked off their 2024 NFL season with a commanding 3-0 start, securing victories against the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers. This undefeated opening positions the Steelers as early contenders in the AFC and strengthens their long-term outlook as they continue to build momentum.

According to data from BetKansas.com, teams that begin the season 3-0 generally find themselves in a favorable position as the season progresses. Since 2019, 83.3% of 3-0 teams have advanced to the postseason, highlighting the critical importance of a strong start in an ultra-competitive league.

While only 8.3% of those teams have gone on to win the Super Bowl in that span, the Steelers’ ability to secure victories in tough matchups bodes well as they prepare for the challenges that may come later in the season, particularly in December and January.

The Steelers boast one of the best, if not the best, defenses in the league, but their success cannot be solely attributed to their defensive prowess. While stars like T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick anchor an elite unit, the offense—led by Justin Fields—has shown marked improvement week by week. Fields’ development as the starting quarterback, coupled with the defense’s dominance, has created a balanced and dangerous team capable of competing at the highest level.

RELATED: Is the Steelers 3-0 Start, With Dominant D and Below-Average O, Sustainable?

As key players enter the later stages of their careers, the team is eyeing a deep run into the postseason sooner rather than later. Historical trends show that 37.5% of teams that begin 3-0 advance beyond the Wild Card round, with the same percentage moving on to the Divisional Round. These figures highlight the importance of capitalizing on their strong start and maintaining momentum throughout the season.

Of course, the last time the Steelers started 3-0 didn’t go so well. They started 11-0 in 2020, before losing four of their last five regular season games and losing at home in the Wild Card Round to the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers stared 3-0 under Mike Tomlin two other time. They started 3-0 in 2010, finished 12-4 and lost to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. In Tomlin’s first season in 2007, they won their first three on the way to a 10-6 record, but lost in the Wild Card Round to the Jacksonville Jaguars.