ExtremeRavens Posted August 29 Posted August 29 The Pittsburgh Steelers have become the most intriguing team in the AFC. While Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore are the top contenders, Pittsburgh is quietly gaining the most interest. The Steelers have loaded up with free agents such as quarterback Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver DK Metcalf and Pro Bowl defensive backs Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey. When teams acquire veterans, it’s a sign that they are trying to be serious contenders. The Steelers also have a group of players who should be rounding into their prime, and combined with coach Mike Tomlin having lost six straight playoff games, it might be time for the Steelers to either step up or step back. A lot falls on the shoulder and arm of Rodgers. At age 41, he is no longer in the same class with the Bills’ Josh Allen, the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson or the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, but he did complete 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns with the 5-12 New York Jets last season. Here is another difference between Rodgers and the other ageless wonder, Russell Wilson, who appeared to run out of gas in Pittsburgh near the end of last season: Rodgers can still throw all over the field, especially in the middle, which Wilson either didn’t or wasn’t allowed to do in the final quarter of last season. Pittsburgh lost its final four regular-season games to finish 10-7, though three were against top teams in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas City. Even more importantly, there have been reports that Rodgers has had a lot of Kumbaya moments, cozying up and forming friendships with Steelers teammates and front office personnel. That’s different from the stories about him being so isolated in the past in Green Bay and New York. It appears to be a good mix. You have Tomlin, the longest-tenured coach in the NFL who hasn’t won a playoff game in six straight years. Then you have Rodgers, a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player. On the outside is Metcalf, who can flat-out fly at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds, and in the middle is tight end Pat Freiermuth. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has three starting offensive linemen drafted in the past three years, including tackles Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu. It’s a formidable offense and certainly spices up the Ravens-Steelers rivalry. Baltimore has a new and improved secondary that features safeties Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie. Pittsburgh, though, has improved on defense as well by adding Ramsey and Slay to go along with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and former Ravens safety DeShon Elliott. Forget about base defense. Most teams will be playing with an extra defensive back, and Tomlin has a group that rivals the Ravens’ in sheer talent. Baltimore wide receivers Zay Flowers, DeAndre Hopkins, Rashod Bateman and tight end Mark Andrews will be a great matchup against Pittsburgh’s secondary. The rest of the AFC North shouldn’t be much of a problem. Cincinnati has quarterback Joe Burrow and receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but the Bengals will be exposed much like they were in 2024 when they averaged 27.8 points per game but allowed 25.5 points and 348.3 yards per contest. The Browns are still the clowns. When a team has five quarterbacks in training camp, they really don’t have one. Cleveland’s current starting quarterback, Joe Flacco, will always be a hero in Baltimore for winning the Super Bowl in the 2012 season, but there aren’t many players on the Cleveland roster who scare you. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr.? OK, nothing special there. On defense, the Browns have defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II, but they won’t be enough unless the Ravens turn in another weak effort like their 29-24 loss to the Browns last season in Cleveland. So, it’s basically the same top teams again. The Steelers, with 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center, are among the NFL's most interesting teams. (Matt Freed/AP) The Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos have improved, but both are soft. The Chiefs have receivers Xavier Worthy and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, tight end Travis Kelce and running back Isiah Pacheco. And, of course, Mahomes, who is a three-time Super Bowl champion. Neither Allen nor Jackson has played in a Super Bowl, but it’s only a matter of time before one prevails. Both have special talents and elevate their offenses. Buffalo has a stronger offensive line, but the Ravens are better on the defensive front. By process of elimination and Mahomes running out of miracles, either Jackson or Allen will get there. But the Steelers are intriguing. They have Tomlin, one of the best coaches in the NFL. They have Rodgers, who might have enough talent remaining to get Pittsburgh over the proverbial hump. He is the best quarterback the franchise has signed since Ben Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 season. Regardless, the Steelers are a hard bunch to figure out, but they should make the 2025 season very interesting. They seem prepared to make a long, serious run. Contenders or pretenders? We’ll find out soon. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article Quote
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