Fansided

NFL power rankings: Patriots, Packers among Super Bowl favorites

By Matt Verderame

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 22: Tom Brady
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 22: Tom Brady /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
30 of 32
Next
PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 08: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during a NFL AFC Wild Card football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Miami Dolphins on January 8, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers went on to the game 30-12, advancing to the divisional playoff game. (Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 08: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during a NFL AFC Wild Card football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Miami Dolphins on January 8, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers went on to the game 30-12, advancing to the divisional playoff game. (Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
3

Pittsburgh Steelers 0-0

Last week: W, 17-14 at CAR
Last rank: 3rd

The Pittsburgh Steelers only judge their season’s success on whether they won the Super Bowl. Anything less is a failure, and in 2016, they failed. The Steelers reached the AFC Championship Game but were crushed by the New England Patriots, something that sent general manager Kevin Colbert into reload mode.

Colbert signed corner Joe Haden last week to a three-year, $27 million deal while adding pass-rusher T.J. Watt in the first round of the draft. The Steelers also traded for tight end Vance McDonald, and are getting Martavis Bryant back. A team that was good last year should be even better, although the lengthy holdout of Le’Veon Bell is legitimate cause for concern.

Pittsburgh has the best offense in football, led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger, 36, has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal with Antonio Brown and Bryant on the outside, while Bell and his multi-talented self loom in the backfield. The offensive line is always overlooked by is arguably the AFC’s best with Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster, David DeCastro, Alejandro Villanueva and Marcus Gilbert up front.

If the Steelers have any weakness, it’s coverage in the secondary. Haden should help, but he’s been both hurt and below-average each of the past two seasons. Outside of him, Ross Cockrell, Artie Burns and others aren’t exactly great options. The safeties are more hitters than anything, with Sean Davis and Mike Mitchell both liabilities in space.

Pittsburgh remains the biggest threat to the Patriots in the AFC. Can the Steelers take care of business in January this time?

Home/NFL