Steelers power rankings roundup: Where experts rank Pittsburgh entering Week 12
By Tommy Jaggi
Even with the easiest stretch of their schedule coming in the first half of the season, I don't think anyone anticipated the level of success we would see from the Pittsburgh Steelers so far. Outside of a disappointing two-game stretch against the Colts and Cowboys early in the season, Mike Tomlin's team has a spotless record.
In Week 11, the Steelers upset the Baltimore Ravens, led by MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and one of the league's best offenses. This week, Pittsburgh could keep the momentum going with a win over the Browns on Thursday Night Football that would vault their record to 9-2.
There's still a tough road ahead, but the Steelers have shown they defeat quality opponents in spite of pedestrian quarterback play at times. The latest NFL power rankings prove they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Steelers power rankings roundup ahead of Week 12
Even before their upset win against the Ravens, the staff at ESPN had Pittsburgh sitting at fifth overall in their Week 11 power rankings. That remains unchanged. ESPN has them trailing only the Lions, Chiefs, Bills, and Eagles. Ironically, Pittsburgh plays two of these teams down the stretch and the results could greatly impact their positioning on this list.
B/R NFL Staff, Bleacher Report: 5th
The staff at Bleacher Report has the Steelers moving up one spot from 6th to 5th entering Week 12. Their victory over Baltimore has Pittsburgh swapping places with their biggest AFC North rival. B/R points to a talented defense playing at a high level that granted Mike Tomlin's team entry into the top five.
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: 4th
Mike Florio's reasoning for moving Pittsburgh from the 5th spot to the 4th spot in his power rankings is simple: they're 'fun to watch and they're winning.' Enough said.
Over at USA Today, Nate Davis has the Steelers moving from 6th in the NFL Power Rankings in Week 11 to 5th ahead of Week 12. Davis points to the fact that the Steelers are only the fifth team this century to win multiple games without scoring a touchdown. That's hard to believe. Even without hitting paydirt, they are finding a way to win football games.
FanSided's latest power rankings have the Steelers creeping up to the fourth spot on the list. Pittsburgh has a surprisingly well-balanced roster and they are one of the few teams in the league who can beat good teams without top-notch quarterback play.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 5th
Yahoo Sports! has the Steelers leapfrogging the Ravens in the latest power rankings after getting the best of their biggest AFC North rival. Frank Schwab points to the fact that Pittsburgh was able to overhaul their offensive line in one draft, thanks to players like Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick.
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