Why Steelers 2020 season should still bring us cheer

The past month has been the most trying as a Pittsburgh Steelers fan in 2020, but there’s still much to be joyful about this season.

First and foremost, I have to be honest here. Before the three-game losing skid by the Pittsburgh Steelers, this was a piece in the works but probably would not have passed very well. It seemed all good things of the 2020 season had come to an end, and that if teams such as the Washington Football Team & the Cincinnati Bengals can come away with wins against Pittsburgh, then this group might legitimately have been the worst 11-0 team ever.

There was a build-up to the implosion. Almost inevitable, that at some point, the wheels were going to fall off. The offense was in complete disarray structurally in how they performed, and the defense became a medical house for injuries.

Steelers rose, fell flat, but is there a comeback?

However, even in these troubling moments, the Steelers reached a ceiling that was projected last year. A top rank defense & an offense still averaging 26 points per game to this day despite everything, they also have the resume of wins against division opponents, on the road, “trap games,” and other top AFC opponents.

Most recently, a comeback to the Indianapolis Colts, clinching the AFC North title, that matchup alone can reflect the last month of Pittsburgh’s regular-season heading into the playoffs. Can they turnaround the year in a blink as they did in the second half?

Expected to rest and limit starters for week 17, Pittsburgh has the chance to finish with or tie the second-best record on the season, with the sixth-best average margin of victory (7.1). Also, it will give an added showcase of the youth on this roster, which should excite you as a fan.

A bright future grows in Pittsburgh

In April, the Steelers left the 2020 NFL draft with six selections, headlined by second-round pick, WR Chase Claypool. Speculations drawing if his natural abilities can outdo his lack of technicality at the position, months later, he’s totaled 700+ receiving yards & leads the all so talented rookie WRs with eight touchdowns. A force added to this offense, the need for a vertical, big body threat is all but gone.

On the offensive side, a fourth-round pick G Kevin Dotson, although he has been limited in his time on the field, has wasted zero of the 291 snaps he has played.

A starter in three games, appearing in twelve, Dotson has only been clocked for two penalties in a strong rookie year that should push him into a starter role early in his career.

From one to another, the likeliness is also high for third-round pick LB Alex Highsmith. Having to replace LB Bud Dupree, who was having a career-year, Highsmith is fulfilling at a rate that could make for an interesting offseason with Dupree. Only getting better as time passes, he was vital in the comeback to the Colts & posted his best game yet in the biggest moment, ending with eight combined tackles & 2 QB hits.

Although, the spotlight isn’t only on the rookies for the younger guys. As much praise as the names listed above deserves, the likes of S Terrell Edmunds & CB Cam Sutton have exceeded expectations in 2020, and others such as LB Robert Spillane & WR Ray-Ray McCloud have made elegant contributions the moment they stepped on the field.

Of course, that one specific position that currently has zero answers behind him will need a change soon. However, a worry for the future, the recent rollercoaster of the Steelers 2020 season still holds a bliss that can be cherished for now & time to come.