The Pittsburgh Steelers faced pretty long odds in NFL betting preseason, and started the year looking like a mess, winning just one of their first five games for 2022-23. Their defense does not have the same bite without T.J. Watt, and their offense is struggling to put points on the board.
It isn’t easy to see much direction from this squad, who are expected to miss the playoffs and possibly be at the bottom of the AFC North standings at the end of the regular season.
Aside from rookie play-caller Kenny Pickett, the Steelers also have running back Najee Harris. Their receiving corps features Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Chase Claypool, and tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Meanwhile, the Steelers have several playmakers on defense, starting with Larry Ogunjobi and Cameron Hayward. Watt, Myles Jack, and Alex Highsmith. The Steelers’ secondary also has cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Chris Boswell is their placekicker on special teams, while Pressley Harvin III is their punter and Steven Sims is their return specialist.
After winning their 2022 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers then dropped four consecutive games. They have also transitioned from Mitchell Trubisky to rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett. That’s a steep fall from grace, considering they made the playoffs during the previous seasons.
Steelers fans are also not used to losing because they have been one of the most successful franchises in the National Football League. The franchise has six Super Bowl champions, including four during the 1970s. They also won two more in 2005 and 2008.
The Steelers franchise was established in 1933, making it the seventh-oldest franchise in the NFL. The team did not perform well during the pre-merger era and was a perennial rans-in in their earlier years. They started to succeed in the 1970s when they assembled a defense known as “The Steel Curtain”.
While head coaches come and go for other NFL teams, the Steelers have had just three head coaches since 1969. Chuck Noll mentored the Steelers until 1991, and Bill Cowher took over a year later. He remained Steelers’ head coach until 2006 and was replaced by current head coach Mike Tomlin.
Aside from six Super Bowl titles, the Steelers have eight conference championships, 24 division titles, and 33 playoff appearances.
The Steelers play their home games at Acrisure Stadium, formerly known as Heinz Field. It was opened in 2001 to replace Three Rivers Stadium and can accommodate up to 68,400 spectators. Steelers fans can crank up the noise if they inspire their team to win or if the opposing offense is trying to score. The place is usually energetic every time the Steelers are at home.
The Steelers had a bitter feud with the Las Vegas Raiders during the 1970s and the 1980s, after facing off during the playoffs five seasons in a row. At the time it was considered one of the fiercest rivalries in pro sports.
They also have rivalries with the Dallas Cowboys, which the Cowboys lead 17-16, and the Denver Broncos, with the record 20-13-1 in favor of the Broncos. Another rivalry the Steelers have is with the New England Patriots, which became quite intense through the 2000s-2010s as the teams battled for Super Bowl supremacy.
Aside from those squads, the Steelers also have rivalries with their fellow AFC North teams. The Steelers lead their all-time series against the Cleveland Browns, 75-58-1. Meanwhile, they lead their series against the Baltimore Ravens, 32-24 and their all-time series against the Bengals, 63-35.
