The Pittsburgh Steelers are back to square one after yet another early playoff exit. HC Mike Tomlin is surrounding a record for all-time one-and-done postseasons– and he'll get an opportunity to connect or eclipse the mark, more than likely. After enjoying the Steelers collapse at the end of the year, there are numerous sellers of Pittsburgh stock today.
That now consists of Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who went even further than his coworker. Recently, Gerry Dulac stated the Steelers look even more from completing than they did a year back. Fittipaldo pulls the timeline back much even more than that.
“I see a group that's most likely additional method now to Super Bowl contention than whenever in the last years”, Fittipaldo stated Sunday night on the # 1 Cochran Sports Showdown on KDKA. “I return to those 2012-13 groups. They both completed 8-8, and if you keep in mind, that '13 group required a terrific surface to get to 8-8. The conserving grace back then was you had a quarterback to construct around. Now you do not”.
The Steelers, obviously, had Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback from 2004 through 2021. They were Super Bowl competitors for the majority of that period, beginning his novice year. They won the Super Bowl in 2005, and then once again under Tomlin in 2008. Because returning in 2010, nevertheless, they just reached the conference finals when.
Throughout the 2011 season, the Steelers simply lost out on the department title and got Tebowed out of the playoffs. A mid-season injury to Roethlisberger thwarted their 2012 season, and 2013 barely even began. A late rally set up a three-year uphill run culminating in their 2016 conference finals look. In 2017, they were seeming at their peak up until Ryan Shazier's career-ending injury torpedoed the defense. It hasn't been the very same considering that.
It took the Steelers a long time to restore their defense, however by the time they did, the offense came reversed. Le'Veon Bell left and after that Antonio Brown followed, with Roethlisberger's elbow departing not long after. And they have not looked competitive ever since.
The Steelers attempted to remedy a draft error in Kenny Pickett by pursuing veteran quarterbacks last offseason. It appeared like it was working at first, however your home of cards undoubtedly imploded. “I believe Russell Wilson would be an excellent choice if they had a much better group around him”, Fittipaldo stated. “They do not. I believe Justin Fields is most likely the guy, and I believe you might most likely get him on the low-cost, too”.
Is Justin Fields going to make the Steelers a competitor in 2025? Even if he went 4-2 versus novices, the injured, and backups? Hello, he can run around. As long as the defense takes the ball away a couple times and holds the other group to 17 points.