The Pittsburgh Steelers are behind the curve right now in the AFC North, at least according to the Fanduel Sportsbook. The odds to win the AFC North are lower than the other three teams significantly, with the Cincinnati Bengals being +125, the Baltimore Ravens being +240, the Cleveland Browns being +350, and the Steelers being the lowest of the group at +650. The Steelers' fall is rough, being so much lower than their AFC North counterparts. The ranking by the SportsBook insinuates the Steelers will finish fourth in the division, which has not happened since 1988.
Mile High Report
The Pittsburgh Steelers took Georgia Tackle Broderick Jones in the First Round of the NFL Draft to help form the "Pickett Fence"
The Steelers have actually never finished last in the AFC North, as the team was still in the AFC Central when the 1988 season occurred. Commentary from Kay Adams from the Up & Adams show thinks the Steelers' season will end differently than these Vegas odds makers believe.
Adams Questions Why The Steelers Are Doubted
Adams on her show had a segment on the Steelers, and the thought of them finishing so low in the AFC North:
"Have we learned nothing from the past 16 years, people? Last season should be the definitive proof that Mike Tomlin is never going to have a losing record, it's never going to happen. And with the way that Kenny Pickett and this young squad played down the stretch, why would anybody think that this team is just going to fall off the ledge and disappear in 2023?"
We’re underestimating the Steelers.
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) May 18, 2023
pic.twitter.com/HPCYDsVUtm
Are the Steelers Receiving Too Much Doubt?
To back up what Adams is saying, the Steelers have been taking all the correct steps to improve, not "fall off the ledge" for the upcoming season. The organization had an incredible draft where they scored higher than most other teams in the NFL, especially in the AFC North, which had high draft grades across the board. The Steelers also have a much "easier" schedule this year compared to last year. This year, the team has the 25th easiest schedule in the NFL, just above the Browns.
In 2022, the team had the 4th hardest schedule in the NFL. With an easier schedule, and a better draft, the team should do nothing but improve their placement for the 2023 season. Adams had this to say during another part of her show about the improvement of the team:
"The biggest concern about the Steelers going into the offseason was the o-line, and they rebuilt their left side. They drafted Broderick Jones from Georgia... they took the guy from the Eagles [Isaac Seumalo]. And then my second biggest concern guys was the secondary, and they rebuilt it. They got [Patrick] Peterson in there, they draft [Joey] Porter Jr... And they got [Keanu] Neal from Tampa Bay."
Kyle Nelson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers second-rounder Joey Porter Jr. will help revamp the secondary in 2023.
Do The Steelers Have What It Takes To Win Now?
The Steelers are not looking to rebuild in the 2023 season, they are looking to win. The pieces the team added this offseason make them not a team that is looking to mess around this year, but a team that is ready to compete. Adams was right, where the team needed to improve, they took that as a challenge, rebuilt it, and made it a strong part of the team. Having all the pieces in place, fans look to the coaching staff to get the team ready, and the players to perform to the best of their ability on the field.
Do you think the Steelers are being undervalued in the NFL right now? What do you think the team's record will be in 2023? Let us know on Twitter or in the comments.
#SteelerNation
