The Steelers will have their bye week come earlier than they ever could have expected. Here’s why a Week 4 bye will hurt their Super Bowl chances this year.
Steelers fans couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2020 NFL season than the one we witnessed in the first three weeks. While it hasn’t always been pretty, Pittsburgh found a way to pull out the win in each of their first three contests despite their 38-year-old quarterback returning from major elbow surgery.
Mike Tomlin’s team hasn’t started this hot since 2010 – the last time Pittsburgh appeared in the Super Bowl. With a win against the Titans this week, the Steelers could have progressed to their first 4-0 record since the 1979 season when Chuck Noll’s team finished 12-4 and went on to win the Super Bowl.
Unfortunately, a bump in the road could ultimately hinder their chances of winning it all this season. This statement might seem a bit dramatic, but it’s true. Because Pittsburgh’s Week 4 contest against the Tennessee Titans has been postponed, the Steelers are now set to have their bye after just three games into the season.
Pittsburgh has looked impressive thus far. The defense has pinned back their ears and gotten after the quarterback early and often, while the opposing teams have failed to consistently move the ball on the ground. Offensively, the Steelers started the season better than expected. While Ben Roethlisberger is still working on shaking off the remaining rust, he has taken good care of the ball – throwing for 7 touchdowns compared to just 1 interception.
This could be a recipe for success, but a long stretch of games could really hurt this team. Here are four reasons why the Steelers Super Bowl chances may have decreased after being forced to have their bye week early: