T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be a real threat to the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC.
Kansas City or Baltimore? Who is going to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LV?
That’s been the conversation since the confetti settled upon the Chiefs’ feet in Miami back in February. Of course, last year at this time it was whether Kansas City or the New England Patriots would emerge from the conference. Turns out, Baltimore ended up with a 14-2 mark and the top seed.
This year, don’t be surprised if the Pittsburgh Steelers crash the party.
Why the Pittsburgh Steelers could be a force in the AFC
Last year, the Steelers were 8-5 before losing their final three games and missing the playoffs. This, despite being without Ben Roethlisberger under center for 14 games after he suffered an elbow injury, requiring Tommy John surgery.
At 38 years old, there’s no guarantee Roethlisberger can ever be the player he once was. However, there’s reason to have faith. In 2018, Roethlisberger — not NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes — led the league in passing yardage with more than 5,100. He still has legitimate weapons in tight end Vance McDonald, running back James Connor and receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington.
If Roethlisberger is back, Pittsburgh’s offense goes from dormant to dangerous. Of course, it would combine with one of the better defenses in the league, and one that should be coming into its prime.
Pittsburgh is loaded with Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt on the edges, Devin Bush manning the middle and Steven Nelson, Joe Haden and Minkah Fitzpatrick in the secondary. Few teams can match the talent the Steelers put on the field defensively.
If the offense holds up, Pittsburgh is arguably the third-best team in the AFC on paper. The only sticking point would be the Buffalo Bills, who also have a great defense and a quality group of weapons. The difference, in theory, is a healthy Roethlisberger trumps an erratic Josh Allen, who is entering his third year.
Pittsburgh isn’t the flashy group it once was with Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, but it could be a force the Chiefs and Ravens will have to contend with.