A lot of football experts don’t see the Steelers faring well in 2022.
In the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals are defending AFC Champions and have Joe Burrow under center and have taken steps to improve their offensive line.
The Baltimore Ravens are returning with Lamar Jackson this year. Injuries are what really hindered them in 2021.
And the Browns, we’ll they’re talented but will have to go with quarterback Jacoby Brissett after selling the farm for a Deshaun Watson, who will serve an 11-game suspension.
For the Steelers, they have a new quarterback for the first time in 18 years and there is hope Mitch Trubisky can find the potential he never really found in Chicago.
But the offensive line is a huge question mark. No one has really stood out and if they do not improve, it could be a long season, no matter who the quarterback is.
With so many question marks surrounding the Steelers and other teams in the division expected to be better, many predict the Steelers finishing only as high as third in the division and under .500 for the first time during head coach Mike Tomlin’s career.
But Mike Florio of Football Night in America and Pro Football Talk is isn’t buying the Steelers struggles.
While he doesn’t have a record for the Steelers, he is picking Pittsburgh to win the AFC North.
“I feel like when they’re expected to be bad, they find a way to overachieve,” said Florio. “People aren’t giving the Steelers the benefit of the doubt. You got two head coaches in Mike Tomlin and Brian Flores and they get the most out of the players they had.
Florio also pointed to the Steelers being able to make the playoffs last year, even with an older, immobile Ben Roethlisberger.
He also said he wouldn’t want to be the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, the Steelers first opponent. Remember, the Steelers beat the Buffalo Bills last year in Week One.