Steelers Are Predicted To Have A Surprising 2024 Season, But Not In A Good Way: 'I Don’t Think They’re Gonna Be Very Good'

The Steelers are known for their regular season success, with head coach Mike Tomlin consistently finding ways to secure victories. Remarkably, in his 17 seasons at the helm in Pittsburgh, Tomlin has never had a losing season. Despite this impressive record, many pundits believe that this incredible streak might be in jeopardy in 2024.

The NFL schedule is always challenging, but the one facing the Steelers this year is particularly brutal. They won't play their first division game until Week 11, with all AFC North games crammed into the latter part of the season—a far from ideal scenario.

Pete Prisco, while on CBS Sports on Thursday discussing the official schedules for all four AFC North teams, shared his candid predictions for the Steelers in 2024. He expects them to have a surprisingly poor season.

"Yeah, I don't think they're gonna be very good. I think they're gonna win seven games, and I think when you look at Russell Wilson, I don't think he's any good anymore. I'll be honest with you, I think his best years are behind him. It wouldn't surprise me at some point if Justin Fields took over as the starter on this team. I think they're gonna struggle throwing the football much like they have for the last couple years. I do."

"I just don't see the same guy [Wilson] anymore. They're gonna be more physical eventually as they get that offensive line worked out, and they are gonna get the offensive line worked out. They had a good draft as it relates to that. It might take a little time and they are in the best division. They'll be good on defense. They had bad linebackers last year. Struggled on defense last year. They'll be better on defense this time around. But I still think they're in a tough division. Seven wins."

During his two-year stint with the Denver Broncos, Wilson struggled to secure victories. Despite being signed to a massive five-year, $242.6 million contract, he failed to live up to expectations as the Broncos managed only 11 wins during his tenure as their starting quarterback. Wilson was also benched towards the end of the 2023 season due to his reluctance to restructure his contract.

Despite considerable discussion about Wilson's difficulties, his 2023 season statistics tell a somewhat different story. He threw for 3,070 yards, with 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and completed 66.4% of his passes. Such performance levels would likely have significantly improved the Steelers' 2023 season had their quarterback consistently achieved similar numbers. Additionally, Wilson led a noteworthy victory against the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in October, with a decisive 15 point win.

Steelers' Russell Wilson Is In A Great Spot In Pittsburgh

While Wilson's performance in Denver raised some questions, many pundits may not have fully acknowledged the complexities of his situation there, including a murky relationship with his coach, Sean Payton. In 2024, Wilson will benefit from one of the league's top defenses, Arthur Smith as his offensive coordinator, and a strong running back duo in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

Additionally, the Steelers have bolstered their defense by acquiring standout linebacker Patrick Queen through free agency. With these enhancements, the team is poised to be competitive in 2024 and capable of securing wins. Motivated to reassert his status as a top-tier quarterback, Wilson is determined to prove critics like Prisco wrong in the upcoming season.