Believe it or not, the Steelers are a legitimate Super Bowl Contender

The Steelers had middling expectations entering the 2024 season. Their quarterback room was in shambles, the offense had been among the league's worst for the past few years, and the defense never did enough to compensate for those issues despite moments of greatness. There was a lot of work to be done, to say the least.

Pittsburgh wasted no time making those moves in the offseason. The quarterback room was overhauled, adding Russell Wilson for practically nothing and Justin Fields as cheap insurance. The line continued to be built up while the defense added some core pieces to start and provide depth. This team looked better than when they overperformed last year, but expectations were still muddy.

While you had the occasional naysayer claim this team was going to be a bottom feeder and even a few names that likened this team to a sleeping giant, the expectations of this team were consistent in years past. 9-10 wins, a possible playoff berth, and a short exit afterward.

Fast forward to now and the Steelers are among the best teams in the NFL with a strong 7-2 record. The offense has found success with two different quarterbacks, while the rushing game has been off to the best start in Najee Harris’s career. George Pickens is making dynamic plays while the defense has been elite at times but has continued to take advantage of mismatches.

READ MORE: 4 winners (and 3 losers) from Steelers' slim Week 10 win vs. Commanders

Heading into the second half of the season, the questions around this team are fading. While not the offensive juggernaut like the Lions, this team is winning in gritty ways. The defense does enough to hold offenses on drives while their offense can win in a variety of ways. Unless things capsize quickly, the Steelers look like a legitimate Super Bowl Contender.

The Steelers are playing high-level football

This team from the top down is excelling right now. Most people expected a strong defense this year, and they haven’t disappointed yet. While the sack numbers haven’t been there, it hasn’t been a detriment. In terms of total yards, they are a top ten unit, and they have allowed the second-least amount of points this year.

While fans have been dismayed by the lack of dominance that we only saw at the beginning of the year, that was never going to last. Offenses adjusted to take advantage of weaknesses on this defense, which is natural in the NFL. It hasn’t been catastrophic though, as the defense is doing everything that it needs to be.

How about special teams? The unit is always a good one, but this group has been dynamic and fun to watch. Multiple blocks that have been schemed up well, good returns, and healthy punting from a last-minute replacement. Oh, and add Chris Boswell as a weapon when this offense can’t score and you have a complete unit.

The surprise has been the offense. Big things were expected of Pickens this year, and for the most part, he has delivered. There has been some unwanted noise mixed in, but he is playing like an alpha dog. The tight end room has seen contributions all over while Calvin Austin has proven to be a viable weapon. Add in Mike Williams now getting acclimated into the mix and the passing game should continue to play well.

The run game has also been hot. While he fell a little flat against the Commanders, Najee Harris is off to the best start of his career. Jaylen Warren looks healthy and can provide the burst and big plays to complement the ground game. Both tend to thrive later in the season, so this group could continue to shine.

Undoubtedly the biggest surprise this year has been the passing game. While Fields was a dynamic threat on the ground with a good arm, Wilson stabilized the position and provided a dependable option to move the ball through the air. It has been a true game-changer for this offense.

The yards haven’t always been there, but they haven’t needed to be. More importantly, he is being efficient with the ball and not making mistakes. This allows the offense to run as intended. It isn’t a knock against Wilson though. His three games as the starter have ranked him among the top quarterbacks in the league.

A great composite stat to judge quarterbacks on is adjusted net yards per passing attempt. This stat takes into account things like passing yards, scores, interceptions, and even sacks. The higher the number the better a passing game is performing. Case in point, some quarterbacks with the lowest adjusted net yards are Will Levis, Bryce Young, and DeShaun Watson, all notable struggling quarterbacks. Former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett had scores of 4.7 and 5.29 in his two seasons with the team, neither of those representing good scores.

While he has only played in three games, Wilson has an adjusted net yards of 8.24. That is on pace to be a career-high for him, and it points to just how efficient he has been. Fields was less efficient as a passer with a score of only 5.58. Comparatively speaking, the only starting quarterback ahead of Wilson in this stat is Lamar Jackson with an insane 9.85. Wilson is playing at an extremely high level.

What all of this points to is a very complete team that makes them tough to beat. It isn’t a perfect unit, but the offense is efficient and grueling, the defense is advantageous and strong, while special teams have provided a lot of splash. The schedule only gets tougher, and some hard times and losses will come, but if the team can maintain a level of play similar to this, they will be hard to beat and have to be viewed as a legitimate contender.