The NFL offseason activity hasn’t even started, but already oddsmakers are getting an early start on next year’s Super Bowl. Here are the Steeler’s chances.
February is just getting underway, and already oddsmakers are getting a jump on the 2020 NFL season. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Fransico 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, and after the way things shaped up in the 2019 season, NFL oddsmakers are taking a stab at which teams will have the best chance to prevail next year. The Steelers were given respectable odds.
As of February 2nd, the Steelers have been given +2000 odds to win the Super Bowl next year, courtesy of The Action Network. This has them tied for the 9th best odds in the league with the Cowboys and the Vikings.
The Chiefs (+600) and Ravens (+800) top the list with the best odds in the league, followed by the 49ers (+1000), Saints (+1200), Patriots (+1400), Packers (+1600), Eagles (+1700), and Seahawks (+1800).
Considering the circumstances, Pittsburgh’s odds to win it all in 2020 are respectable. Ben Roethlisberger missed nearly the entire season in 2019, and the Steelers offense fell apart under the direction of quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges.
While neither of their backup passers are going to be the answer moving forward, the return of Roethlisberger will automatically give the Steelers a chance to be a very competitive football team.
In addition to Ben’s return, Pittsburgh currently possesses one of the league’s most dominant defensive units, headlined by All-Pro players in T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Heyward. Though there is a chance this group could lose Javon Hargrave and possibly even Bud Dupree, it’s likey that Pittsburgh will be able to retain at least one of these players moving forward – even with the third-worst cap situation in the league.
On top of this, the Steelers seem to have some young budding talent that only stands to get better. Diontae Johnson and James Washington gave us hope for a resurgence in Pittsburgh’s passing attack while Devin Bush and Minkah Fitzpatrick are very young players who should only continue to grow and develop.
Stephon Tuitt also returns to the Steelers next season and should provide an immediate impact against the run. He was having the best year of his career in 2019 before a pectoral injury cut his season short.
At the end of the day, it is once again going to come down to the overall health of the team. Despite an elite defense, some unfortunate injuries to key players held Pittsburgh back in 2019. If they can stay relatively healthy throughout the 2020 season, the Steelers Super Bowl odds could even go up from here.