Are the Steelers Being Underrated?

With the season just two months away, the Patriots seem to once again be the clear favorite to win the AFC, but the Football Scientist K.C. Joyner makes a pretty compelling argument that the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers are being underrated.

Joyner cites a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers defense bringing back nearly everyone from last year's historic unit, an easier schedule and an improved running game.

The schedule is the point Joyner makes that is being underestimated the most. Pittsburgh last year played a brutal schedule that included everyone from the NFC East (no team worse than 8-8) and the AFC South (including the 13-win Titans and the 12-win Colts) plus the Chargers (8-8). This year the Steelers get to face the AFC West (no team better than 8-8 last year) and the NFC North. Throw in the Bengals and Browns struggles and Pittsburgh has a nice run of easy games while the Patriots have to face the NFC South (no team worse than 8-8 last year) and the AFC South (which includes the Colts and Titans). That makes it easier for the Steelers to make the playoffs and earn home-field advantage than the Patriots.

But there is one of Joyner's points that doesn't make much sense to me. It's true that Roethlisberger may be healthier this year and Willie Parker may not miss some time, but injuries always happen in the NFL. Last year Pittsburgh's injuries at cornerback, tailback and on the offensive line were at positions where the Steelers had solid depth. If Hines Ward or Santonio Holmes went down or James Harrison missed some time, Pittsburgh doesn't have the same depth. Pittsburgh can survive some injuries, but only at some positions.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-30-2009 @ 5:59PM

dewit202 said...

Yes and the Patriots played without their QB and would have gone further in the post were it not for the strange NFL tabulations. Nonetheless SI and ESPN both used votes from players, coaches, fans, and journalists to award the Patriots the team, coach, and QB of the decade.

6-30-2009 @ 11:10PM

lynda and matt said...

o hell no the patriots have no chance they r a good team but if they do play the steelers in play off r super bowl they have no chance and for little tom boy he wood look up at r defense and say wow what have i got my self in to and the same goes for moss he wood not no what to do looking at #43 all the patriots can do is lay down a play dead the steelers r the team of the decade and for the sea cocks o i mean hawks the will never beat the steelers the 6 time champions of the world

7-03-2009 @ 12:21PM

rlau290541 said...

dewit202

Did the New England Stealers also get votes from CSI too?

7-03-2009 @ 1:23PM

chad said...

Hey dont throw the bengals in as an easy run of games for the squeelers. i think the Bengals are the team being underrated here.

7-05-2009 @ 4:16PM

patty said...

i went to cincy last yr to watch steelers play and being from pittsburgh i was astonished to see many more steeler fans there then bengal fans .. so im going again this yr :) i really had bad thoughts about going into someone elses backyard to see my steelers but what fun i had. plus WE WON!!

7-05-2009 @ 9:47PM

d'or said...

It is funny how anyone would dis the steelers by calling them the squeelers,especially when they make reference to a lowly franchise like the halloween helmet cinci bung holes . they have no superbowl rings. we just laugh at those bums from ohio anyway. we have 6 super bowl rings. the 1st to get 3,4 and now six. eat your heart out ohio and just keep saying what you say every unsuccessful ,teary eyed year "maybe next year" ha ha. all the while we will just keep adding to our over crowded trophy cabinet. we may have to get another cabinet after we repeat this year. remember we repeated as champs in sb ix and x, & then again in xiii & xiv. we didn't in xl,but it looks good after xliii.bung hole fans do you understand the roman numerals? lol keep hatin' bung hole fans. we love to best you bums.

7-06-2009 @ 10:06AM

ironcity4ever said...

Chad are you retarded? Any expectation of the Bungholes to win anymore than 8 games dumb.

7-06-2009 @ 4:02PM

rtmkmcrae said...

STEELERS-6 BUNGLES-0

7-10-2009 @ 6:32AM

deniseincaeyes said...

Well someone finally got it right!The steelers are always underated or maybe it is unliked buy the media. Nobody really even mentions us,but flying under the radar has paid off for the steelers. Patriots? I would not be surprized if Tom Brady does not hear footsteps this year after the injury.So to the media I would not get too far ahead of yourselves this year. The reiging superbowl champs will rule again!Dynasty--Pittsburgh!

7-19-2009 @ 4:30PM

atar said...

hahaha hahaha hahaha lol lol rotflmao. And then the injury to Brady...be careful Karma you know. One more concussion ( three to date) to Ben's dumbazz head and he won't be able to feed himself let alone hear footsteps. Also he better cut back on those Pamontes French fry garbage sandwhiches he's lookin' a little sloopy-fat.

7-10-2009 @ 6:33AM