The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a tough situation. While they have a lot of talent across the board, they still lack a surefire option at quarterback, and that could be the thing that causes their downfall. Their over/under win total for 2024 is only set at 8.5, and there have been some mixed reviews on the Steelers the entire offseason. With a stacked division and a brutal schedule down the stretch, there doesn't seem to be a lot of expectations placed on the team for this upcoming season.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Quarterbacks Justin Fields (#2) and Russell Wilson (#3) during the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 OTAs.
Ryan Clark made an appearance on Mina Kimes' new show, Power Hour. As they went down and ranked the top teams in the league, Clark had to pick between the Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons in terms of which team is better, and he did not skip a beat with his answer.
"Falcons [over Steelers]. I didn't want to do it either. I think Kirk Cousins, as of now, is better than both quarterbacks in the quarterback room of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I do believe the Falcons have really good weapons. I just do. I believe the Falcons have weapons that create matchup problems, and if you go back to last year defensively, a guy who I think is really good, I feel like AJ Terrell had a down year last year, especially when you compare his play to the year before. But you also get Jessie Bates that comes in and has the sort of effect from a safety position that we saw with guys like Earl [Thomas], being able to get the football in the middle of the field, turn defense into offense."
While Kirk Cousins is coming off of a torn Achilles, there is a lot of truth in him being a better quarterback than anyone that the Steelers brought in. The Falcons gave Cousins a four-year deal worth $180 million. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos are paying Russell Wilson a superstar salary to not play for them anymore. On top of that, the Chicago Bears only took a conditional sixth-round pick to give up Justin Fields.
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson points towards some of his teammates as the offense prepares to run a drill during 2024 mandatory minicamp in Pittsburgh, PA.
Clark also brings up the offensive weapons that the Falcons have as a strength, even though they were under-utilized in 2023. Ironically, the same man that allegedly failed to use those weapons is the new offensive coordinator for the Steelers, Arthur Smith. While the Falcons do have a strong running back tandem and a physical freak at tight end in Kyle Pitts, they will have to prove what they can do with their offensive attack.
Will The Steelers Be Better Than The Falcons?
The Steelers' defense should be much better than Atlanta's. Clark even praised Donte Jackson as an underrated acquisition later on in the show. It also helps when you have arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, TJ Watt. Every offseason story on Minkah Fitzpatrick shows that he won't have to bail out weaknesses in the defense anymore, and he can go back to being the ball-hawk that Steeler Nation knows and loves.
The Falcons do have the advantage on offense, since they have a quarterback that has proven to be a true threat over the last couple years. Both teams are expected to have a high-end rushing attack with a passing game that can at least act as a quality complement. The question will be answered when the season kicks off. It will happen in Week 1, as the Falcons and Steelers will face each other to begin the season.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers RB Najee Harris runs over an Atlanta Falcons defender in Week 3 of the 2023 preseason.
Smith will get his revenge game right off the bat. While both teams are in the fringes of playoff contention, they can at least determine who will have the better chance to make it to the playoffs with a Week 1 win.
What do you think about Clark's assessment of the Falcons and how he thinks they're better than the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below.
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