Pittsburgh Steelers have opportunity to make move in AFC
The Pittsburgh Steelers began their season 1-3, but a three-game winning streak has them looking frisky in the AFC playoff picture.
It’s time for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After stumbling in the first month of the 2021 NFL season to a. 1-3 start, Ben Roethlisberger and Co. have rallied, winning three straight. Last week was the most impressive victory to date, beating the Cleveland Browns in their building, 15-10, and doing so without kicker Chris Boswell for the second half.
Want $250 to bet on Monday Night Football?
Now, entering Week 9, the Steelers welcome in the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Chicago has the league’s worst passing offense by a large margin, and hasn’t been able to do much in recent weeks. At 3-5, the Bears look ready for a long winter’s nap, and Pittsburgh’s defense should provide the impetus for it.
Over the next eight days, the Steelers host the Bears and winless Detroit Lions. A pair of wins — as they should be — would put Pittsburgh at 6-3 before playing one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league.
After the Lions’ game, the Steelers schedule consists of the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals on the road, and then alternating home and road with the Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Browns and Ravens. There’s not a single easy game in the bunch, and so winning at least four — likely the goal for a playoff spot — won’t be easy.
Read: NFL Week 9 – Notes And Observations From Sunday
If Pittsburgh is going to make the playoffs, beating Chicago and Detroit are absolute musts. This is especially true in the brutal AFC North, where all four teams have legitimate dreams of making a run in January.
For the Steelers, getting to the postseason likely rests on the defense. Pittsburgh has one of the league’s best units, ranking seventh in points allowed. Furthermore, the pass rush is terrific with superstar T.J. Watt screaming off the edge alongside interior presence Cam Heyward.
The offense, much-maligned over the past two seasons, simply needs to do enough. The offensive line has been a weak point, limiting rookie, first-round running back Najee Harris to 479 rushing yards on 3.7 yards per carry. Roethlisberger has also struggled to gain chunk plays, with Pittsburgh only accounting for 20 passing plays of more than 20 yards. Additionally, Roethlisberger is averaging 6.6 yards per attempt, one of the league’s lowest figures.
Still, the journey is easy for the next two weeks. The Steelers can’t afford to needlessly trip themselves up when a gauntlet awaits.
