Kansas City Chiefs: Ranking 2021 AFC playoff teams
By Chris Clark
Kansas City Chiefs: Ranking 2021 AFC playoff teams
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not be deserving of the No. 3 spot after how they finished the season, but they are still a very formidable foe. There are several reasons for this. First, they are a perennial contender lead by a great coach and veteran quarterback. Mike Tomlin knows how to get his squad ready for any opponent and this year’s team is no different.
Second, while Ben Roethlisberger is no longer looking like the elite quarterback that he once was, he still merits much respect. Interestingly, their offense doesn’t have one superstar player but instead has several above average playmakers.
Players like JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, and Chase Claypool make it hard to defend their passing attack. Third, his offense paired with a stingy defense makes for one of the more balanced teams in the playoffs.
The Steelers’ T.J. Watt just claimed the 2020 NFL sack leader title with 15 sacks, so this team knows how to get after the quarterback and even though they lost Bud Dupree to injury earlier in the season, this is still a defense that knows how to fly around and make plays. They’re only allowing 19.5 points per game, which is third best across the league. Needless to say, strong defense in the postseason is a recipe for success.
With wins this season over playoff teams Tennessee, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Baltimore twice, Pittsburgh deserves to be regarded more highly than their late season record would indicate. The 2020 season looks like it could be Big Ben’s last hurrah, so making the most of this postseason is a big deal for him and Pittsburgh.
After going 11-0 to start the season, this is a team that could be really dangerous if they put all the pieces together in the coming weeks. Only time will tell if their inner-Super Bowl winning tendencies decide to come out.