Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were on a streak of playoff wins and their offense seemed ready to take the next step. However, as we look back to 2023, that unfortunately did not happen. The Steelers overcame several key injuries throughout the season, including playing street free agents and practice squad players on defense, to make the playoffs.

However, this wildcard spot was in vain, as the Buffalo Bills quickly knocked Pittsburgh out of the playoffs.

Although Pittsburgh has had a winning record throughout head coach Mike Tomlin’s tenure, they have not won a single postseason game since the 2016 season. This year is expected to bring changes, as the team changed its plans in the offseason from the previous one.

Last season’s starting quarterbacks – Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph – are gone. They have been replaced by veterans Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Combined with the hiring of a new offensive coordinator and the use of three picks in this year’s draft, there is optimism that the offense will finally turn things around.

Some familiar faces return on defense, while adding a top-notch free agent in Patrick Queen to ease the pressure at the inside linebacker position, which has been an Achilles heel for the team for several seasons. This should help a team that has to play in the highly competitive AFC North and is aiming for a division title: a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since 2020. A home playoff game would be quite significant, but the Steelers will likely need to finish with a better record than last season (10-7).

Can Pittsburgh make the postseason and win in 2024? Let’s find out.

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Quarterback room

There’s a new wind blowing in Pittsburgh as former Super Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson looks to make amends in what may be his last chance at NFL glory. The nine-time Pro Bowler should still have plenty of energy left in the tank at 35, but just in case, the Steelers acquired former Chicago Bears first-round pick Justin Fields in a trade earlier this spring.

Despite what some media reports, the two passers-by not engaged in a quarterback duel to determine who would ultimately be selected as the starting quarterback. Wilson was held back during training camp due to a reported calf injury, allowing Fields to take over the majority of the “first team” drills in practice. However, Wilson was brought in as a starter and Fields was added later when Pickett requested a transfer. That’s the pecking order for now.

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Tomlin & The Steelers 2024 Betting Odds

• Steelers reach playoffs +150
• Steelers win AFC North +800
• Total Steelers wins: Over 8.5 +120

The Steelers are not getting any significant recognition in the futures market. They are currently at the lowest echelon in terms of their chances of winning the AFC North. This is logical considering they are in a challenging division with the Ravens, Bengals and Browns. However, it also shows the bookmakers’ confidence in their prospects.

Normally, with a strong playoff contender like the Steelers, the best NFL sports betting promos would be used to increase the odds available. However, this time, bookmakers do not have much confidence in the Steelers’ chances of making the playoffs and are therefore offering plus odds on several future bets.

It’s rare for the Steelers to have a poor playoff chance, with a win percentage of over/under 8.5. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has never had a season with more losses than wins since taking over in 2007. To date, he has made 11 playoff appearances, winning seven division titles and one Super Bowl.

It’s doubtful that Tomlin’s winning streak will end anytime soon: he proved that in 2023, when he won with three different subpar quarterbacks.

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Offensive Line Ranking

The Steelers’ offensive line currently ranks ninth and is the most impressive they’ve been in a long time, so if there’s room for improvement on offense, it’s mostly down to the performance of the offensive line.

In the last two NFL drafts, tackles were selected in consecutive first rounds: Broderick Jones 14th in 2023 and Troy Fautanu 20th in 2024. Additionally, this year’s draft used a second-round pick to sign center Zach Frazier and a fourth-round pick to select Mason McCormick.

These additions fit well with previous free-agent signings Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels and show that the Steelers front office is committed to fixing the offensive line and winning in the trenches.

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Positive aspects of the defensive line

It’s entirely plausible that the Steelers will have a top-five defense in 2024.

Pittsburgh has the league’s most exceptional defensive player in TJ Watt. Watt’s counterpart, Alex Highsmith, performs exceptionally well as he quickly moves away from Watt’s side. In 2023, Highsmith had a PFF grade of 90.3, making him the 10th best of all edge rushers. In addition, Watt achieved a grade of 91.9, the sixth highest.

Second-year pass rusher Nick Herbig had an impressive performance last season and during this year’s preseason.

They join a front seven that includes the aforementioned Queen, veteran Elandon Roberts and her replacement, underrated rookie linebacker Payton Wilson. The defensive line returns the ageless Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and second-year pro Keeanu Benton. Benton is poised for a breakout year after an impressive 2023, giving Pittsburgh a force to be reckoned with on offense.

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Can the Steelers win a playoff game?

If the Steelers want to improve on last year’s performance, they’ll have to decide who the best quarterback is. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is expected to bring more innovation than his predecessor Matt Canada, but his main goal is to develop a more efficient and controllable offensive strategy.

Assuming no one takes over the quarterback position and shows leadership and quality performance, the Steelers will once again rely on their running game and defensive prowess to earn victories this season.

Will that be enough to win a playoff game? That depends on the matchups and how they fare in their own division. The AFC North is highly competitive, and Pittsburgh has the third-toughest schedule ahead, determined by the teams’ winning percentage in 2023 (.533). However, Tomlin’s team went 5-1 in the division last season, considering the setbacks – all of that should improve for this season.

The deciding factor could be who they face if the Steelers make the playoffs. Winning the division would mean they would have to play a home playoff game, which would be a huge advantage. However, if they have to play away again to play in Buffalo or places like Kansas City, that could prove to be a difficult task. However, a home playoff game against the New York Jets or Miami Dolphins could be the solution to end the winless streak.