"They [The Steelers] are the 4th best team in this division," says NFL Network

Would it be a typical NFL off-season if the Pittsburgh Steelers weren't being tabbed to finish last in the AFC North? We saw it last off-season, the off-season before that, and I could go on for many of the off-seasons in the past. Here we go again, we're hearing NFL analysts from many major sports outlets saying a lot of the same stuff. Fox Sports left the Steelers' defense off a top 10 defenses of 2022 list, ESPN listed the Steelers' off-season as one of the worst 16 in the NFL, and the Steelers' triplets were disrespected by CBS Sports, just to name a few of the times that the 2022 Steelers have been counted out "on paper" already.  On Friday, NFL Network analysts on "NFL Total Access" Willie McGinest, James Jones, and Adam Rank were posed the question, "Where do the Steelers rank in the AFC North?"

The responses...

McGinest said,

"Let me just preface this by saying, it's May, nobody has played a game, nobody has been through training camp or anything, but just based off paper and off of last year. I know they finished 2nd, but going into this year, here's the preview from "Willie Mac," you got the Cincinnati Bengals, who went to the Super Bowl; I'm going to start them at number 1. The Baltimore Ravens was beat up last year, the entire backfield, Lamar Jackson, whatever you can think of they was injured. Both starting corners, they were out. So, the Baltimore Ravens. And then, the Cleveland Browns, on paper, probably one of the best teams in the NFL. I know they had some subtle losses, but they got Deshaun Watson, so this automatically boosts the Cleveland Browns up to 3. I'm going to say the Pittsburgh Steelers are coming in slightly at 4th, because quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, new kid [Kenny Pickett], we don't know, the defense didn't play great last year, the running game really wasn't there. They got some new pieces that they got to get together."

Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Mitch Trubisky(10) participates in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) Thursday May 26, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)

Jones responded,

"I can't believe that you would put them at 4, and [Mike] Tomlin, no losing seasons, but you're right!" Jones said emphatically with a laugh. "I mean, when you look at whoever goes under center, they have the worst quarterback in the division. No disrespect to those two young fellas that are over there, but they have the worst quarterback in the division. You have Lamar Jackson, Jojo [Joe] Burrow, and you have Deshaun Watson, right? So, that's the worst quarterback in the division. So, that means you're really going to have to rely on your defense to get you out of really tough tough situations against these top quarterbacks. I don't think that's going to happen, I don't think they out up a lot of points, I think their defense is on the field a lot. They just did not get as good as these teams that are in their division and when you really look at it on paper, they're the 4th best team in this division. And I really don't see them competing with these teams that's up there with what they have on their roster, right now."

Photo / JSKO_PHOTO (Twitter)

Adam Rank disputed the other two analysts at first and then agreed,

"Yeah, but they're still a playoff team, they're still good, they made the playoffs last year." After a minute of back and forth with the group, Rank was asked again, "Where are they going to finish, Adam?" "They're the 4th best team in this division, but listen, if they were in another division, perhaps it would work out a little bit better for them. Listen, "Return of the Jedi" was the third best of the original trilogy, but it was still a good movie, but compared to "New Hope" and "Empire," it comes in 3rd. "

Rank did give the Steelers the benefit of the doubt though,

"I'm saying all four of them are good teams. The Steelers are coming off a playoff appearance, even though they didn't play very well last season. There's something about the Steelers, whenever you look at the numbers or anything like that, and I'm the numbers guy I know, but they still make the playoffs. They still find a way."

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin calls a play in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Benny Sieu/ USA Today Sports

Check out the full segment here! 

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