Maybe the offseason talk has quieted down for a while, but the public perception of the Steelers seems to have made a pretty big difference.
Some people look at a team that made the playoffs last year with one of the worst quarterback rooms of all time, expect mediocre play from Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields, and assume the team has a very viable path to 10 wins.
But on the other side of the spectrum, there are those who absolutely do not believe in the 2024 Steelers. The group regularly cites the team’s difficult schedule and lack of true playmakers on offense as reasons why the Steelers aren’t close to being a contender in 2024.
Former NFL QB Kurt Benkert definitely falls into the latter camp. He had the most extreme negative view of the team I’ve heard all offseason. His Pocket Presence show.
“I don’t see how this year’s Steelers team is significantly different from last year’s Broncos team. The Broncos’ defense was terrible in some ways but great in others. The Broncos’ defense has been the reason they’ve won most of their games all year, and the same could be true for the Steelers.” Benkert said. “I don’t think the Steelers will win more than six games this year. I’d be shocked if they win seven.”
Let’s take a look at the 2023 Denver Broncos and see if it’s an appropriate comparison. Quarterback play is similar. As far as weapons on offense go, I prefer George Pickens over any pass catcher on this Denver team. Of course, the Broncos would have had more depth.
Benkert comparing defenses finding Denver-Pittsburgh similarities is a bit questionable. Sure, the stats are a little skewed because Denver gave up 70 points to the Dolphins (still pathetic), but they ranked 27th in scoring defense last season. The Steelers finished sixth. The Broncos have had some playmakers on defense like Patrick Surtain and Justin Simmons, but defensive comparisons across the board seem lazy.
And look at their schedule. Although objectively brutal, getting seven wins is not the unachievable goal Benkert claims. The division was pretty much the same as last season, with 5 wins and 1 loss. Even if it had dropped to 2-4, they still would have won seven games last season. Benkert said he would be “shocked” to see these numbers in 2024.
He may be right and his mid-range predictions may not generate views, but I think Benkert will end up looking and feeling foolish after watching the Steelers this year.
