Cam Newton Doubtful That Steelers' Russell Wilson Has What It Takes To Make Pittsburgh Legit Super Bowl Contenders

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been doubted the entire 2024 season, but that hasn't stopped them. Sitting at 10-4, the Steelers are in a prime position to secure the AFC North with a victory over the Baltimore Ravens this Saturday. Despite dealing with a slew of key injuries, a Mike Tomlin-led team always has a chance to overcome adversity, and this squad is no different. Their defense remains a force to be reckoned with, and the offensive line, though banged up, continues to show resilience.

However, not everyone is sold on the Steelers’ Super Bowl prospects. Former NFL MVP Cam Newton, now a media personality, gave a candid assessment on Friday morning’s First Take. Speaking with Chris Canty and Stephen A. Smith, Newton shared his doubts about the Steelers and their quarterback, Russell Wilson. While acknowledging the team's success, he questioned whether they could truly make a deep playoff run.

Newton’s skepticism centers on the Steelers’ offensive inconsistencies, particularly with Wilson at the helm. Despite flashes of brilliance, Newton doesn’t believe the team has the firepower to compete with the league’s elite in the postseason. For the Steelers to prove him wrong, a win over the Ravens could serve as a statement victory, pushing them one step closer to the Super Bowl and silencing some of the doubters, including Newton himself.

"Russ needs this and as a matter of fact, the Steelers need this," Newton said. "When I look at the Steelers and a lot of times people think I am hating. I am not hating. We need more people to understand if the Steelers are pretenders or contenders."

While Wilson is 6-2 as a starter in 2024 and is enjoying a strong comeback season, Newton remains unconvinced that he's proven he can beat top-tier competition. 

He even argued that the Steelers' victory over the Ravens isn't convincing, pointing out that Pittsburgh failed to score a single touchdown in that game. According to Newton, until Wilson can lead the team to more decisive wins against tough opponents, it's hard to view his team as a legitimate Super Bowl threat.

"When I look at the slate of Russell Wilson being 6-2," Newton said. "You get a win over the Giants, you get a win versus the Commanders… Ok you go down the list again, the Ravens. You didn’t score any points that game, all field goals. You lost to the Browns, you beat the Bengals who aren’t even a playoff contender. Then you beat the Browns again, we know what the Browns are and then you lost to the Eagles."

The Steelers had a chance against the Philadelphia Eagles to really silence all doubt, but they failed. Newton is far from sold on Pittsburgh's status as contenders.

"Out of all those games Stephen A., I don’t know if I am really hanging my hat on the Steelers being the team that they think that they are," said Newton.

As much as Steeler Nation might dislike what Newton said, he isn’t entirely wrong. The Steelers have had success with Wilson, but the one major criticism remains their lack of touchdowns in that Ravens game. Still, the NFL is a brutal league, and every win matters. There are no bad wins, so that 6-2 record speaks volumes about what the team has accomplished so far.

Steelers' Russell Wilson Looking To Bounce Back From Poor Showing Against The Eagles

Wilson will be eager to prove that the loss to the Eagles was just a regression and nothing more. He and the Steelers will look to silence their critics with a big win over the Ravens. 

A victory would secure the AFC North for Pittsburgh, but a loss could spark a wave of criticism about a poor finish to the season. All eyes will be on Wilson and the offense as they attempt to overcome their third straight game without their top playmaker, George Pickens.

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