The Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 season has not gone as planned. They are 1-2 in the division and 3-7 overall. Incredibly, with seven games to play, the black and gold have not been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. The normally sure-footed Justin Tucker missed a chip shot 67-yard field goal at the gun to end the Baltimore Ravens four-game winning streak in Jacksonville to drop them into a tie at 7-4 with the Cincinnati Bengals for first place in the AFC North.
If the Steelers can post a win against the plucky Indianapolis Colts , they can settle in at 4-7 just three games behind of the divisional leaders with seven games to play. They probably have to sweep the remaining schedule to have a chance. The playoffs have started in Pittsburgh, but does the team have a reason to believe they can pull off a seven-game run?
Defensively, yes. The Steelers are as healthy on defense as they can reasonably expect with seven games to play, and TJ Watt’s 85% is better than most of the league. Teams don’t dare single him up as he is still making ridiculous plays and pressuring quarterbacks. The defense has no margin for error, but as the highest paid defense in the NFL, they can make a statement down the stretch. The question is will they?
The offense has a steeper mountain to climb and face a good Colts defense on Monday night. Kenny Pickett has shown flashes of brilliance and mediocrity, but since the bye, he has played turnover free football. If the offense can continue to score in the 20’s, the schedule is favorable for the Steelers. The number one adjustment that Pickett has to make is that he is the only adult in the play calling process and he may have to sacrifice timeouts to teach the coaches a lesson.
Chris Boswell is a couple of weeks away from returning to the Steelers, so Matthew Wright has to make kicks. He does not need to be Boswell from a distance, just consistent. Pressley Harvin III has to consistently flip the field for the Steelers. He has been better in 2022, but he has not approached the Ray Guy Trophy winner form he was in college. The return game has been up and down, but fair catches and no fumbles are all that is required from Steven Sims. A flash return would be nice, but turnover free football is more important.
Pittsburgh could get on a roll and the Ravens are not world beaters. Roquan Smith has made Baltimore better, but Lamar Jackson can be contained. The Steelers have had an answer for him more often than not during his career and they will have to hope that Pickett has Baltimore’s number like Ben Roethlisberger did during his career. The Cleveland Browns could also be primed for a run with Deshaun Watson at quarterback, but it may be that nearly two years away from football, hurts more than helps them.
Is it likely that the Steelers will pull off a seven-game winning streak to make the playoffs? No. But it isn’t impossible, and they went on a post-Thanksgiving run in Roethlisberger’s second season to win a fifth Lombardi Trophy. Seven-game winning streaks happen in the NFL and the Washington Commanders have won 6 of 7 with Taylor Heinicke at quarterback. If you compare the two teams, they are similar with exceptional defenses, good offensive weapons and inconsistent quarterback play.
A certain segment of the fan base would love for the Steelers to fail, clean house with the coaching staff and give another group of coaches superior playmakers and stars to start over with. Another more optimistic bunch are hoping the Steelers win out and make it interesting down the stretch. At 10-7, the Steelers could only win the division and make the playoffs. If it happens, the Mike Tomlin staff stays intact after a miracle run.
The question is are fans and more importantly, the organization okay with that result? I am as myopic as the next fan and I will never root for them to lose, but the coaching staff would become even more out of touch if the Steelers talent bails them out down the stretch like it has for years.
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