Steelers' Projected 2024 Last Place Finish In AFC North By Oddsmakers Is A Puzzling Mystery

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not finished last in the AFC North. Ever. The last time they were at the bottom of a division was in 1988 when they finished a distant last at 5-11 in the AFC Central behind the 12-4 Cincinnati Bengals, 10-6 Cleveland Browns, and the then 10-6 Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans). This resulted in a purge of the coaching staff, including the future Hall of Fame Head Coach Tony Dungy. 

In 2023, Las Vegas oddsmakers picked the Steelers to finish last in the AFC North, with Kenny Pickett as the starting quarterback. Pittsburgh trotted out every quarterback on the depth chart during the 2023 season, finishing third in the division and securing the seventh seed in the AFC playoffs. In 2024, the Las Vegas oddsmakers are picking Mike Tomlin's team, which is now projected to have Russell Wilson under center to start the season, to finish last again in the division. 

On Monday, Ross Tucker from CBS Sports appeared on The Rich Eisen Show to discuss the NFL offseason. Rich Eisen, who is a friend of Tomlin and ripped Steelers fans for allegedly losing possession of their sanity during the 2023 season, asked Tucker about the Steelers' offseason and their 2024 outlook. 

"The Steelers season win total is 8.5 for this year, right," Tucker said. "Mike Tomlin's never had a losing season and now they have two bites at the apple at the quarterback position. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, either one of which I think is an upgrade from Kenny Pickett. I really don't understand that number for people that are into that."

The Fan Duel Sportsbook and Draft Kings Sportsbook have Pittsburgh finishing last in the AFC North with +850 odds. If the Steelers win nine games, based on the current odds, a $10 bet will earn $95. Betting against professional Vegas oddsmakers is not a long-term recipe for success, but the history of the Black and Gold is being ignored for the second season in a row. 

Steelers fans might be tired of hearing the national media claim that Tomlin has never had a losing season, but that doesn't make it any less relevant. Two things can be true: the Steelers will, at worst, finish at or near .500 under Tomlin, and the fan base can be absolutely tired of being just good enough to be relevant, but not good enough to be competitive in the playoffs. 

Steelers Picked To Finish Last In Best Division In Football, Despite Roster Upgrades

Part of the reason the oddsmakers are picking against the Steelers is the perceived strength of the quarterback situations in Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow are better than Wilson and Fields. However, both have demonstrated that injuries can derail them. The specter of what Deshaun Watson was for the Houston Texans is still influencing prognosticators who do not recognize what he is at this point in his career.

Omar Khan is working feverishly to remake the roster and give his head coach the tools to compete. He imported the long-sought-after solution at inside linebacker and gave Patrick Queen a franchise-record free agent contract. There are questions to be answered because he inherited a substandard roster with multiple holes. 

Two years into their tenure, Khan, Tomlin, and Andy Weidl have found some meaningful answers, and they are not done. Pittsburgh has to find center, tackle, wide receiver, and cornerback help in the upcoming NFL Draft. Defensive line depth is a priority, but seven years of horrible draft classes can't be fixed overnight; even if Khan is doing the repairs.

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Where do you think Pittsburgh will finish in the AFC North in 2024? Please take a moment to comment below, or post your thoughts on my X: @thebubbasq. 

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