Are the Steelers Any Better than Last Year?

[fansince'76]

they did kick our asses twice though, wasn't even close either time

True, but that was the first time in a LONG time they swept us during a season.

[Edman]

they did kick our asses twice though, wasn't even close either time

And? The Browns also took 2 of 3 and eliminated the Steelers from the playoffs in 2020. 2021 was a much different story despite returning the exact same roster. The Bengals also kicked the Ravens' asses, and it wasn't close.

There's a major difference between winning and winning with expectations. The '21 Bengals came out of nowhere and shocked everyone and even beat the Chiefs twice. Even went to the Super Bowl. Yeah, turns out they're pretty good. Now let's see them do it with a target on their back and teams with an entire offseason to prepare for them now. They're like the '17 Jaguars and the '19 49ers.

Getting to the Super Bowl is not easy, and Joe Burrow did it his second year. Yeah, I don't see anyone overlooking them.

[Fire Goodell]

And? The Browns also took 2 of 3 and eliminated the Steelers from the playoffs in 2020. 2021 was a much different story despite returning the exact same roster. The Bengals also kicked the Ravens' asses, and it wasn't close.

There's a major difference between winning and winning with expectations. The '21 Bengals came out of nowhere and shocked everyone and even beat the Chiefs twice. Even went to the Super Bowl. Yeah, turns out they're pretty good. Now let's see them do it with a target on their back and teams with an entire offseason to prepare for them now. They're like the '17 Jaguars and the '19 49ers.

Getting to the Super Bowl is not easy, and Joe Burrow did it his second year. Yeah, I don't see anyone overlooking them.

What I'm saying is although their record was only a half game better than ours, they were still a better team than us by a pretty good margin (last year)

[Mojouw]

I’m sitting here thinking about this. Well, overthinking to be honest.

But it’s about QB and O line, right?

Any significant “better” starts and stops right there; doesn’t it?

Maybe Ben has a better final hurrah if his Center wasn’t either on the ground or in his lap every other snap. Maybe a more mobile Pickett-Trubisky makes more happen behind a porous line.

But regardless of how you or I define better, the issue is that right now and on paper the 2022 Steelers have the most questions at o line and QB of any of the AFC North teams.

[DesertSteel]

Sure. It’s all on paper at this point. And on paper their the “worst” team in a strong division.

If nothing else, it’s having the worst QB situation. Even if it’s not terrible it’s not (yet) on par.

Now we know how other AFC North teams felt for the better part of 2 decades.

I'm not a Lamar Jackson believer so you can remove me from the worst QB club.