The Steelers have not made the playoffs because the 2021 season, however there isn’t any cause why that dry streak ought to proceed this 12 months. Listed below are three explanation why Pittsburgh will get again to the postseason in 2023.
Remaining schedule
The Steelers (7-4) sit in second place within the AFC North and can be the No. 5 seed within the AFC if the playoffs have been to start at this time. That is not the case, however they should not go away the postseason seeding the remainder of the common season. Pittsburgh has a 78 % likelihood to make the playoffs and there is a good cause why.
The staff has the seventh best remaining schedule within the NFL. Half of the Steelers’ six remaining opponents have shedding data (2-10 Arizona Cardinals, 2-9 New England Patriots and 5-6 Cincinnati Bengals), which suggests they need to end with at the very least a 10-7 file and get again to the postseason.
Pickett’s historic streak
Second-year QB Kenny Pickett has definitely had his ups and downs to start his NFL profession however he’s quietly on a historic streak for the franchise. Pickett hasn’t thrown an interception in 208 straight go makes an attempt, which is the longest streak within the staff’s historical past.
The No. 20 total decide in 2022 is not throwing a ton of touchdowns both with simply 13 in 24 video games performed. However he will not throw a pricey interception, which is precisely what Pittsburgh must win a few of its video games. It hasn’t at all times been fairly to observe but it surely has confirmed to be a recipe for achievement and the staff will seemingly proceed making an attempt to win that approach.
(Principally) wholesome protection
The Steelers protection has seen a few season-ending accidents to linebackers Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander. However outdoors of these accidents, they appear to be getting wholesome on the good time. All-Professional security Minkah Fitzpatrick, who has missed the previous 4 video games with a groin damage, is on monitor to play in Pittsburgh’s Week 13 matchup towards the Cardinals (2-10).
The return of Fitzpatrick can be big for the protection, which is quietly permitting the fifth-least factors per sport (16.5) within the league. With Fitzpatrick again within the beginning lineup, it is going to be the primary time followers will be capable of watch him, DT Cameron Heyward and linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith all enjoying collectively since Week 1. The massive 4 have performed simply two collection collectively all season, in response to Steelers Now’s Nick Farabaugh.
