Steelers' 2024 Team Receives Unbelievable Disrespect: “[Pittsburgh] Would Be A Guaranteed Trip To The Conference Championship Game”

The Pittsburgh Steelers have maintained an impressive record under Head Coach Mike Tomlin, never experiencing a losing season in his 17-year tenure. This remarkable consistency has made Tomlin one of the most respected coaches in the NFL. However, the team has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season, leading to growing frustration among fans. The prolonged playoff drought has caused some to question Tomlin's leadership, with a vocal group of the fan base even calling for the end of his era in Pittsburgh.

Despite these concerns, the Steelers' front office remains confident in Tomlin's ability to lead the team. They recently signed him to a three-year contract extension, ensuring he will remain as head coach through the 2027 season. This move signals the organization's belief that Tomlin can steer the Steelers back to postseason success. There is renewed optimism that the 2024 season could finally end the playoff drought, especially with the promising new talent added to the roster.

However, not everyone is convinced of Pittsburgh's postseason potential. Miami Dolphins reporter Travis Wingfield, host of the Drive Time podcast, recently stated that if the Dolphins were to face Pittsburgh in the playoffs, it would virtually guarantee them a trip to the conference championship game. 

"Sometimes winning playoff games is as favorable as your draw. Granted, good for the Lions, they won their division and that Rams team was no easy out, even though I picked against them all year," Wingfield said. "That was a good Rams football team they beat, but then they get the Bucs in the Divisional round? Can we have that? Can we get the Steelers, at home, in the Divisional round this year? That would be a guaranteed trip to the conference championship game."

Wingfield's comments reflect a broader skepticism about the Steelers' ability to compete with the AFC's elite teams. While Pittsburgh's defense remains formidable, questions about the offense's consistency and overall team depth persist. For Wingfield's ideal scenario to happen, Pittsburgh would need to win at least one playoff game.

However, the Dolphins should focus on beating whoever is in front of them, not hoping to play a Tomlin-led Pittsburgh team. Although Pittsburgh has been an easy out in the postseason recently, this trend won't last forever. The 2024 season features improved quarterback play, with Russell Wilson eager to regain momentum in his once-historic career.

Pittsburgh has improved in nearly every area except the wide receiver room. Their special teams unit and defense have both gotten better. The Steelers won't be an easy out in 2024, regardless of what Wingfield believes. Even with Tomlin's recent postseason struggles, it's unwise to wish for a matchup with Pittsburgh in the playoffs.

The Dolphins have their own playoff struggles to worry about. While they have become a much-improved team under Head Coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, they still struggle to turn great regular seasons into postseason success. If the two teams face off in the playoffs, it would be interesting to see if Pittsburgh could prove Wingfield's comments wrong. Both the Dolphins and the Steelers are expected to be solid teams in the AFC, making a playoff matchup not unlikely.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Facing Pressure To End Playoff Drought In 2024

As the new season approaches, the pressure is on for Tomlin and his squad to prove their critics wrong and reclaim their place among the NFL's top contenders. 

The upcoming season will be a crucial test of whether the Steelers can translate regular-season success into playoff victories and potentially bring a seventh Super Bowl title to Pittsburgh.

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