The Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to become Super Bowl contenders this year. They had a busy offseason trying to accomplish that, and while things haven’t been perfect, they’ve started this season off on the right foot. They’re currently 3-1 and in first place in the AFC North. However, some people don’t think their success will last. Former NFL head coach Jay Gruden believes the Steelers are for real, though.
“DK [Metcalf] is a big player, they’ve got Calvin Austin [III] to take the top off, the running game is okay,” Gruden said Wednesday on The Bullpen with Adam the Bull podcast. “I think offensively they’re like a C, C+, but that might be good enough with that defense.
“As their defense gets better throughout the season, I think a C+ offense is good enough for them to compete because they get off the field quickly, they’re gonna get plenty of opportunities, and Aaron [Rodgers] has still got a lot of juice in that arm, and he can get the ball down the field for some big plays. I think they are a legit contender.”
While Gruden likes the Steelers’ defense, it’s been up and down so far. Things looked ugly when the season began, but the Steelers put in a better defensive performance in their latest game. They’ve been rounding into form.
However, it’s a little early to say that unit is fixed. The Steelers have only played four games, and their defense hasn’t shown enough consistency yet.
Similar things could be said about their offense. The Steelers started the year off red hot on that side of the ball, but they cooled off quickly. In Week 2, their offense looked flatter. Then, in Week 3, it looked a little better but was still inconsistent.
Week 4 saw the Steelers’ offense show signs of growth, though. The team ran the ball better, employing bigger personnel. Rodgers was efficient as well, distributing the ball to his playmakers.
Compared to the rest of the AFC North, though, the Steelers might not need to play perfectly to win their division. The Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens currently look more flawed than the Steelers. Even the best of the best in the AFC, like the Buffalo Bills, don’t look unbeatable.
Therefore, if things break right for the Steelers, they might be able to contend for a championship. It’s a long season, though. Things could change. If the Steelers’ defense plays up to its potential, the team should have a better chance at the Super Bowl. On the other hand, if their issues become more apparent, they might not even be a playoff team.
