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Is the Steelers Super Bowl window open or closed?

By Eric Hassel

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 29: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers look on from the sideline against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 29: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers look on from the sideline against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 08: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers sits on the bench during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Steelers defeated the Cardinals 23-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 08: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers sits on the bench during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Steelers defeated the Cardinals 23-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Steelers franchise QB was mostly a spectator during the 2019 season

The 2019 season started like any other season, full of hope and expectations that we would have a winning season and one that would bring another playoff run to the ultimate prize-winning the Super Bowl.

As we know, those hope and expectations came crashing down the earth once ‘Big Ben’ was injured and placed on IR. The offense tried to resemble the offense that fans were accustomed to seeing but without our veteran signal-caller, the offense was simply feckless.

That may be harsh, but that’s the reality of the performance of the 2019 offense, but had Roethlisberger played the entire season, I believe we would have won the AFC North, we would have advanced to and possibly hosted the AFC Championship game and we would have beaten the San Francisco 49ers to capture our 7th Lombardi trophy.

Let’s assume ‘Big Ben’ returns this season and is no worse for wear, so to speak, from his injury.  Despite the poor showing of the offense in 2019, the return of our franchise QB will be a catalyst for tremendous improvement in 2020.  Honestly, the only direction in which the offense can go is up.

Assuming the ‘D’ plays, as well as they, did in 2019, with a vastly improved offense, the Steelers could rejoin the playoff conversation.  To me, the defense is a few players away from being the best defense in the NFL.  Armed with the top defense in the NFL and a much-improved offense led by our veteran QB, I think the Steelers Super Bowl would be very much open.

Let’s take a look at why the Super Bowl window is closed.

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