Fansided

5 NFL teams that are going to surprise as contenders

By Matt Verderame

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 15: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 15: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 22: Justin Layne #31 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 22: Justin Layne #31 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Everybody seems to be forgetting about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Don’t ever sleep on a Mike Tomlin team.

Despite playing Duck Hodges and Mason Rudolph at quarterback throughout last season, Pittsburgh finished 8-8 and was in the race for a wild card berth in Week 17. Now, the Steelers expect to get future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back after elbow surgery.

The big question is obvious. Can Roethlisberger come back from such a serious procedure at 38 years old to lead Pittsburgh to another Super Bowl appearance?

The roster is good enough around him to provide hope. Pittsburgh has a top receiver in JuJu Smith-Schuster who should bounce back after a tough 2019. James Conner isn’t elite, but he’s above-average behind one of the best offensive lines in the game.

Defensively, Pittsburgh is an elite unit with Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joe Haden in the secondary, playing behind T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, Devin Bush and Cam Heyward in the front seven.