The Pittsburgh Steelers have had one of the most successful free agency runs this offseason. After the team’s 10-7 record last season and a Wild Card Round exit, Mike Tomlin and Co. came up with the perfect strategy by orchestrating trades for veteran players and young stars.
The team got rid of Kenny Pickett , the starting QB, and brought in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to fill the QB room. In addition to this, the Steelers added Patrick Queen to their elite defense.
To Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ free agency moves have improved the team’s roster and odds of making a deep playoff run.
I'm going to sit up there and say a Divisional playoff game....could the Steelers make the playoffs and win a playoff game? Yes they can, I believe they can with that defense. Stephen A. Smith via First Take
Stephen A. Smith is a lifetime fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the team’s free agency acquisitions have him excited. But here’s the issue: the team happens to be in the AFC North, a division that can arguable be called the toughest one to win in the NFL. Fighting Steelers, you have the Baltimore Ravens, the Cleveland Browns, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will need to beat the toughest teams in the NFL in order to make it to the Divisional Round
The road for the Steelers is not going to be easy. The team will have to face off against a Ravens offense with Derrick Henry added to it. The Browns will be getting Deshaun Watson back as their starting QB next season, and the Bengals will have Joe Burrow back as well. The Steelers have an edge over their competitors from a defensive perspective, but on offense, it is tough to gauge the team because we do not know how the team dynamics will work with Wilson as the QB.
Stephen A. Smith’s take is right. The team has the potential to get as far as the Divisional Round. The reason for this is Mike Tomlin and his capabilities as a head coach. He was able to lead the Steelers to a 10-7 record this season with an offense that continually struggled. If he can get a consistent offense that can score, there is no reason to doubt that the Steelers can indeed make it to the AFC Divisional Round.
Of course, it is easier said than done. The entire division is challenging, with competitors such as the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills, a revamped Los Angeles Chargers, and the Houston Texans, the Steelers will need to fight for every point.
With plenty of time left and the NFL Draft pending, the rosters of other teams in the division could look significantly different two months from now. To claim that the Steelers will at least reach the Divisional Round is a far-fetched claim to make at this moment.
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