The Pittsburgh Steelers preseason is off to about as good of a start as fans could ask for. This hot start has led to a lot of media suddenly jumping on the Pittsburgh bandwagon instead of doubting them like usual. It has taken the Steelers from being predicted to be fourth in their division to now making a playoff run according to one reporter.
AP Photo | Matt Freed
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills, in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023.
During their first 2023 preseason game, the Steelers looked strong against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning 27-17. After the game was over, they were given some credit for solid performance, but also endured a lot of comments about how the Buccaneers aren't the same without Tom Brady and so the Steelers weren't fully credited for the win.
As if to silence the doubters, the Steelers came out and practically dismantled the Buffalo Bills during the second preseason game, 27-15. This was especially true during the beginning of the game when both teams were playing starters. Pittsburgh looked dominant in all three phases of the game.
Now many of those same doubters are reversing course and praising the Steelers. This has even led to predictions that the Steelers will make the playoffs instead of coming in last in the AFC North. Now Kyle Brandt is telling all the haters to mark his words, Pittsburgh will see postseason action at the end of 2023.
The Steelers Receive High Praise From Good Morning Football Analyst
Brandt, who is a host on NFL Network's show Good Morning Football, was giving the Steelers more credit than most as the offseason wound down. When the 2023 training camp was just getting underway, Brandt said he was excited to see what the Steelers would bring.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth celebrates his touchdown catch against the Buffalo Bills during the 2023 preseason.
He felt that the way the Steelers ended the 2022 season on a strong note was an excellent sign and believed they would pick up where they left off. Unlike many others, Brandt saw last season as more of a floor than a ceiling.
"There are seven [playoff] spots in the AFC. Seven. In one of the best AFCs ever, maybe the best ever, I think the Steelers will have one," said Brandt.
Everyone knows it is only the preseason, however, it is refreshing to see the Steelers start out strong and look as though they improved over the offseason. This apparent improvement had Brandt doubling down on his earlier comments. This led him to make a bold prediction, the Steelers will make the 2023 playoffs.
Brandt said he is going on record now because you hear people pick these "fake" sleeper picks and when the playoffs roll around, the team is nowhere to be found. He noted there are always under-the-radar teams that get picked by analysts because it is so far-fetched, it garners headlines. Instead, he said the Steelers qualify as an actual sleeper pick.
Joshua A. Bickel / Associated Press
Steelers' Alex Highsmith sacks Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the 2022 season opener.
What makes them a sleeper team, according to Brandt, is that they weren't in the playoffs last year, they have a young quarterback, and they are in a really good division. However, just because their division is good, does not mean they can't hang with them and win.
"They are different, they're not just a team, they're an organization. You might say, 'Well they missed the playoffs,' but they've been in the playoffs seven of the last 10 years. They haven't had a losing record in 20 years."
One of the biggest knocks the Steelers get regarding the possibility of them making the playoffs at the end of 2023 is that the other AFC North teams have such good quarterbacks. Brandt said everyone brings up Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Deshaun Watson and compares them to Pickett.
"Just trust the Steelers. There are three teams in the league you just trust. You trust what they're doing, that they have a bedrock organization. They're going to run and play defense, it may not always be pretty, but we'll get the wins."
He points to the 2022 season as proof of how solid the organization is. Brandt said everyone believed last year would end Head Coach Mike Tomlin's winning-season streak. They had so many things stacked against them - a new quarterback, an injured T.J. Watt, and so on, but they turned it around and managed to keep the streak alive.
Brandt's Contradiction
While Brandt predicts that Pickett will upset at least one of the other high-powered AFC North quarterbacks for a spot in the playoffs, he also contradicts himself with his own graphic. He presented a graphic on the show of the AFC quarterbacks ranked by tiers. Oddly enough, despite predicting that Pickett will take the Steelers to the playoffs, he has him ranked lower than the others.
His ranking tiers had seven levels and Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas City Chiefs, is still alone at the top spot. As for the AFC North, he has Burrow on tier two, Jackson on tier three, Watson on tier four, and Pickett down at tier six along with Mac Jones, Tua Tagovailoa, and Trevor Lawrence.
NFL Network
Analyst Kyle Brandt ranks Steelers' Kenny Pickett in tier six in the AFC.
Of course, there is more to a team making the playoffs than just their quarterback, but it is interesting that Brandt doesn't see Pickett as elite and yet believes he will take Pittsburgh into the postseason. Regardless, it is refreshing to see some of the analysts recognize some of what fans have been saying since last season.
What do you think? Do you think the Steelers will make it to the playoffs? Do you agree with Brandt that the Steelers are just such a solid organization that they will find a way to get it done? What do you think of Brandt's quarterback tiers? Click to comment below.
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