Where do Steelers rank in the AFC heading into the 2020 season?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for a bounce-back year in 2020. Here’s where they rank in the AFC heading into the sesaon.

With Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges leading the charge for the Steelers last season, it was no surprise to see them fall short of the playoffs. Despite a top NFL defense that was the only unit in the league to boast three first-team All-Pro players last year, Mike Tomlin’s team ultimately disappointed with an 8-8 record – losing three straight games to close out the season.

This year should be different. Whether you are an optimistic Steelers fan or a critical NFL analyst, everyone should agree that Pittsburgh should be an improved team in 2020.

Returning to the field is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and starting defensive lineman, Stephon Tuitt. Pittsburgh’s only big loss this offseason was nose tackle, Javon Hargrave, but their additions far outweigh his loss – adding players like Eric Ebron, Chris Wormley, Stefen Wisniewski, Derek Watt, and Chase Claypool this offseason.

Where do the Steelers rank in the AFC?

This begs the question: Where do the Steelers rank in the AFC this year? There are a few teams who clearly deserve recognition as some of the best entering the 2020 season. For starters, the Kansas City Chiefs are not only the team to beat in the AFC, but in the entire NFL. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are some of the best in the business, and they will look to defend their Super Bowl title from last season. They have the best odds to win the Super Bowl again this year at +600, courtesy of The Action Network.

Just a hair behind them is the Baltimore Ravens at +650. The Ravens were regarded by many as the best team in the NFL last season prior to their playoff run that quickly ended in disappointment against the Tenessee Titans. The Ravens boast the reigning NFL MVP and a record-setting rushing attack in 2019.

After these two front-runners in the AFC, teams like the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills all have better Super Bowl odds than the Steelers this year. But should they?

Though the Steelers currently have just the 6th-best odds in the AFC, we could certainly make the case for them being the third-best team in the conference this year. While it’s highly unlikely that Ben Roethlisberger plays up to the MVP level of players like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson this year, he could certainly outperform other AFC quarterbacks like Philip Rivers, Cam Newton, and Josh Allen.

Even if his play is just comparable to the previously named passers, Pittsburgh will be aided by a phenomenal defense that is trending upwards. While the Patriots and Bills also had incredible defenses in 2019, neither unit possesses the star power the Steelers had last year, and that was without Stephon Tuitt getting after the quarterback for most of the season.

While most analysts would rank the Steelers between the 3rd and 6th best team in the AFC this year, I have a feeling they will be much closer to the 3rd spot. Obviously, the success of their season is contingent upon the health of Roethlisberger in 2020. But assuming he stays on the field, there’s no reason to believe that Pittsburgh can’t have the third-best team in the AFC this year.