PITTSBURGH STEELERS
2022 Record - 9-8
Head Coach - Mike Tomlin
Offensive Rank - 23rd (323 YPG); Scoring - 26th (18.1 PPG)
Defensive Rank - 13th (330 YPG); Scoring - 11th (20.4 PPG)
The Steelers will be looking to second year quarterback Kenny Pickett to be the starter after he passed for 2,404 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions a year ago while also rushing for 237 yards and scoring three times on the ground. Mitch Trubisky is slated as the backup QB and he passed for 1,252 yards with four touchdowns and five picks. Najee Harris leads the rushing attack and he amassed 1,034 yards (3.8 YPC) and scored seven touchdowns while also making 41 receptions for 229 yards and three scores. The wide receivers include Diontae Johnson (86 receptions for 882 yards), George Pickens (52, 801, four TD) and Allen Robinson II (33, 339, three TD with LA Rams) while Pat Freiermuth is the tight end and he had 63 receptions for 732 yards with two scores.
The defense is led by defensive end Cameron Heyward (10 1/2 QB sacks) and linebackers Alex Highsmith, who had 14 1/2 sacks, and T.J. Watt, who missed seven games last season with various injuries. The secondary features Minkah Fitzpatrick (six interceptions and 96 tackles) along with corner man Levi Wallace (four picks) and Patrick Peterson, another corner who had five interceptions with Minnesota last season. Rookie Joey Porter, Jr. (Penn State) is also in the fold as a cornerback.
OUTLOOK FOR 2023 - The Steelers finished very strong last season, winning four in a row and six of their last seven games to avoid the first ever losing season for Head Coach Mike Tomlin, who has been at the helm since the 2007 season.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett will be relied upon to continue improving while trying to cut down on interceptions and relying less on his running skills. With a decent core of receivers and a solid tight end, he has reliable targets in the passing game. The running game was average a year ago and the team will likely emphasize improvement in that area, which is usually a strong point in Steel City. Improving in the red zone is a must as the team only averaged 18 points per game a year ago.
The defense should be solid, especially if Watt, who is among the best defensive players in the NFL, can stay healthy at the linebacker position. The pass rush is respectable (40 total QB sacks in 2022) and the secondary could be among the best in pro football barring injury to any key players. The Steelers tied for the NFL lead with 20 interceptions a year ago. So it stands to reason this team could contend for a playoff spot in the very rugged AFC this season. That could be a bit of a reach, but it's not out of the question as long as the offense can score more points.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. San Francisco
Week Two - vs. Cleveland
Week Three - at Las Vegas
Week Four - at Houston
Week Five - vs. Baltimore
Week Six - BYE
Week Seven - at L.A. Rams
Week Eight - vs. Jacksonville
Week Nine - vs. Tennessee
Week Ten - vs. Green Bay
Week Eleven - at Cleveland
Week Twelve - at Cincinnati
Week Thirteen - vs. Arizona
Week Fourteen - vs. New England
Week Fifteen - at Indianapolis
Week Sixteen - vs. Cincinnati
Week Seventeen - at Seattle
Week Eighteen - at Baltimore
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