Steelers True Test Awaits Them
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently second in the AFC at 6-2, behind only the 7-0 Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh appears to be legitimate contenders in the AFC, but their last three wins came against the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets and New York Giants. The three teams have a combined record of 7-18. Two of the games were also played at home in primetime and the contest in Las Vegas was basically a home game as Steelers Nation took over Allegiant Stadium.
The true test is on the horizon for the Steelers. According to Pro Football Focus, Pittsburgh has the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL. Following the bye, the Steelers play at Washington, Baltimore, at Cleveland on Thursday Night Football, at Cincinnati, Cleveland, at Philadelphia, at Baltimore, Kansas City on Christmas Day and Cincinnati to wrap up the regular season.
The teams with the toughest second half of the season 😬 pic.twitter.com/ocWzRFeCl1
— PFF (@PFF) October 31, 2024
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger pumped the brakes on the Steelers offense. He wants to see how they do against an elite defense.
“I just want to pump the brakes a little bit, just because we don’t know what we’re gonna get when we face a really good defense,” Roethlisberger said of the offense on his Footbahlin podcast. “But they’re doing what they have to do right now, and that’s all that matters.”
The Steelers offense actually has a more favorable schedule down the stretch. The Jets and Giants have a better defense than teams like Baltimore and Cincinnati. In points per drive, the Commanders defense ranks 22nd, Ravens (25th), Browns (10th), Bengals (24th), Browns (10th), Eagles (9th), Ravens (25th), Chiefs (11th) and Bengals (24th).
https://twitter.com/Steelers_DB/status/1852419918404170201
On the flip side, the Steelers defense will be battle-tested in the final nine games. In points per drive, the Commanders rank first, Ravens (3rd), Browns (30th), Bengals (9th), Browns (30th), Eagles (8th), Ravens (3rd), Chiefs (6th) and Bengals (9th). The Steelers play three games in 11 days in Weeks 15-17, at Philadelphia, at Baltimore and home against Kansas City on Christmas Day. That will be a brutal stretch.
The Steelers have got off to a promising start at 6-2, but the true Steelers will be revealed in the final nine games.
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