It seems way too early to be thinking about the #1 pick overall.
It is early. It was only brought up because right now they’re apparently the favorites.
While we're still not technically out of it I'd like to see us win games,
but it doesn't feel like we have a hope of the playoffs. If not, then logically, the highest pick helps the team the most, but losing enough games to pick #1 would be rough.
I still think we win a handful of games and end up closer to pick 8 than pick 1.
DISCLAIMER: I know this post is silly and am not expecting the Steelers to even come close to sniffing the playoffs but here goes...
As awful of a start as is it has been the Steelers are only 2 games behind for the division lead and only 1 game behind Cleveland and Cincinnati. The team is really banged up, especially on defense, and are facing the toughest part of the schedule. I expect them to lose the next 3 and probably badly but if by some miracle they win 2 out of 3 they would be 3-5 going into the bye and presumably healthier with 2 games with Baltimore and 1 each against the Bengals and Browns.
Certainly there is nothing about this team that suggests they could beat the Little Sisters of the Poor right now but hey, nothing is impossible.
So you're saying there's a chance...
I mean, I put $10 on them to win the division this week, but I also put $10 on them winning the AFC Championship... I'm usually overly optimistic about the Steelers chances.
How it happens: The Steelers get lucky with a few turnovers vs the Bucs and Kenny finally throws some TDs. Najee and the coaching staff finally talk about the obvious, that he's hurt. Warren gets used more and Najee is able to start resting his foot/feet some. Dolphins still without Tua and Teddy leaves the game early again because Miami being watched like a hawk. Now 3-4. Get the doors blown off by the Eagles and our offense looks inept. 3-5.
Fire Matt Canada going into the bye. TJ Watt, Heyward, and Minkah all get healthy. Kazee comes back healthy and is the beast that was advertised in training camp giving us two good safeties and an alright safety. Post-bye Najee is finally healthy again after lower snap counts in the 3 games leading into the bye. He starts running for over 4 yards a carry and has some chunk plays. Coming out of the bye the Steelers hold the Saints to less than 10 pts and win by 21. The Bengals game is close but we lose because the Bengals have the ball last or because we don't convert the final drive, 4-6. Then we play the Colts and Falcons, at this point they're both out of it and aren't tanking but also aren't playing winning football, we smoke them by at least 17 in each game. 6-6.
Then we face the Ravens for the first time this year. Watt destroys and Minkah picks off Lamar giving us a slim win. The Panthers are a joke at this point but Wilks is fighting for a job, so they try hard. The game ends up being closer than we'd like but Pickett to Pickens takes over, Pickens has 2 TDs and we win by a score, 8-6. The Raiders have been eliminated from the playoffs but are playing angry, we beat them by 21 as our offense continues to improve under the surprising play calling of Mike Sullivan. He was not good as an OC with the Giants, but he's calling plays like his job depends on it. Trick plays, 20 yard shots down the middle, anything but Run-Run-Pass against stacked boxes. 9-6.
We end the season against the Ravens and Browns. Our defense has stayed healthy post-bye, and our offense has steadily improved. The Ravens have lost some games heading into the final stretch of the season, but are still leading the division by 2 games. The Bengals have the same record as the Steelers after losses to the Bills and Chiefs. The Browns are slightly behind the Steelers due to losses that piled up in the middle of the season (Pats, Ravens, Bengals, Dolphins, Bills, Bucs). The Steelers start down 14-0 against the Ravens but a splash play bounces their way and Pickett starts to roll, Steelers win on a walk-off Bos FG from 50+ yards out. In week 18 the Bengals are eliminated from the playoffs but want to play spoiler to the Ravens, and we play the Watson lead Browns. Turns out taking more than a year and a half off football isn't good for your skills and Watt dominates Watson as the Browns coaching staff fails to rely on the run game after getting their QB back. The Steelers win by a TD ending the year 11-6 and winning the AFC North.
A delusional fantasy? Yeah, but there's a path!
