Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 Preview and Predictions

(QB Russell Wilson – via Pittsburgh Steelers)

Key Players Returning:

RB Najee Harris, RB Jaylen Warren, WR George Pickens, TE Pat Freiemuth, OG James Daniels, OG Isaac Seumalo, OT Broderick Jones, DE Cameron Heyward, DE Larry Ogunjobi, NT Keeanu Benton, LB Nick Herbig, LB Alex Highsmtih, LB Cole Holcomb, LB Elandon Roberts, LB TJ Watt, CB Joey Porter Jr., FS Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS Damontae Kazee, PR Calvin Austin III, and PK Chris Boswell.

Key Players Departing:

QB Kenny Pickett (Eagles), QB Mason Rudolph (Titans), WR/PR Diontae Johnson (Panthers), OC Mason Cole (released), OT Chukwuma Okorafor (Patriots), LB Kwon Alexander (UFA), LB Markus Golden (UFA), CB Patrick Peterson (UFA), CB Levi Wallace (Broncos), NB Arthur Maulet (Ravens), SS Keanu Neal (UFA), KR Godwin Igwebuike (UFA), KR/PR Gunner Olszewski (Giants), and PT Pressley Harvin III (released).

Key Players Added:

QB Justin Fields (Bears), QB Russell Wilson (Broncos), WR Van Jefferson (Falcons), WR Quez Watkins (Eagles), LB Patrick Queen (Ravens), CB Donte Jackson (Panthers), SS DeShon Elliott (Dolphins), KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Falcons), and PT Cameron Johnston (Texans).

(OG Troy Fautanu – USA Today Sports)

Draft Picks:

Round 1: Pick 020 – OG Troy Fautanu (Washington)
Round 2: Pick 051 – OC Zach Frazier (West Virginia)
Round 3: Pick 084 – WR Roman Wilson (Michigan)
Round 3: Pick 098 – LB Payton Wilson (NC State)
Round 4: Pick 119 – OG Mason McCormick (South Dakota State)
Round 6: Pick 178 – DT Logan Lee (Iowa)
Round 6: Pick 195 – CB Ryan Watts (Texas)

2023 Results:

W01 49ERS L 7-30
W02 BROWNS W 28-22
W03 @ Raiders W 23-18
W04 @ Texans L 6-30
W05 RAVENS W 17-10
Bye Week
W07 @ Rams W 24-17
W08 JAGUARS L 10-20
W09 TITANS W 20-16
W10 PACKERS W 23-19
W11 @ Browns L 10-13
W12 @ Bengals W 16-10
W13 CARDINALS L 10-24
W14 PATRIOTS L 18-21
W15 @ Colts L 13-39
W16 BENGLAS W 34-11
W17 @ Seahawks W 30-23
W18 @ Ravens W 17-10
WC @ Bills L 17-31

Team Info:

2023 Overall 10-7 (3^rd in AFC North)

Home: 5-4
Away: 5-3
North: 5-1
AFC: 7-5
NFC: 3-2

Head Coach: Mike Tomlin

Pittsburgh: 173-101-2
Career: 181-10-2
Playoffs: 8-10

(RB Najee Harris – Getty Images)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: None
Rushing: Najee Harris (255 car., 1035 yards, 4.1 avg., 8 TD)
Receiving: George Pickens (63 rec., 1140 yards, 18.1 avg., 5 TD)
Yards After Catch: Pat Freiermuth (486)
TD’s Scored: George Pickens (5)
Sacks: TJ Watt (19)
Tackles: Elandon Roberts (101)
Interceptions: Damontae Kazee/Alex Highsmith (2)
Pass Deflections: Joey Porter Jr. (10)
Tackles For Loss: TJ Watt (19)
Forced Fumbles: TJ Watt (19)
Kick Returns: George Pickens (1 ret., 7 yards, 7.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Calvin Austin III (29 ret., 249 yards, 8.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Chris Boswell (29-31 fg/fga., 94%, 27-28 xp/xpa., 114 pts.)
Punting: None

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB: 3 Russell Wilson
RB: 22 Najee Harris
WR: 14 George Pickens
WR: 11 Van Jefferson
WR: 10 Roman Wilson |R|
TE: 88 Pat Freiermuth
LT: 77 Broderick Jones
LG: 73 Isaac Seumalo
OC: 54 Zach Frazier |R|
RG: 78 James Daniels
RT: 76 Troy Fautanu |R|
KR: 84 Cordarrelle Patterson
PK: 9 Chris Boswell

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE: 99 Larry Ogunjobi
NT: 95 Keeanu Benton
DE: 97 Cameron Heyward
LB: 90 TJ Watt
LB: 6 Patrick Queen
LB: 50 Elandon Roberts
LB: 56 Alex Highsmith
CB: 24 Joey Porter Jr.
CB: 26 Donte Jackson
FS: 39 Minkah Fitzpatrick
SS: 25 DeShon Elliott
PR: 19 Calvin Austin III
PT: 5 Cameron Johnston

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B

Defense

Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B

Special Teams

Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: A
Punters: C

Schedule:

09/08 @ Falcons | Pittsburgh leads the series 15-2-1. The Steelers are 3-0 since 2014, and their last series loss (38-41) dates back to 2006.

09/15 @ Broncos | Pittsburgh trails the series 13-20-1. The Steelers won (27-19) the last meeting between teams in 2021, and their last series loss (17-24) was in 2018.

09/22 CHARGERS | Pittsburgh leads the series 24-11. The Steelers lost (37-41) the last meeting between teams in 2021, and their last series win (24-17) was in 2019.

09/29 @ Colts | Pittsburgh leads the series 25-7. The Steelers are 7-1 since 2014, and their last series win (24-17) was in 2022.

10/06 COWBOYS | Pittsburgh trails the series 9-13. The Steelers won (24-19) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series loss (was at the prior meeting in 2016.

10/13 @ Raiders | Pittsburgh trails the series 15-17. The Steelers are 3-2 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (17-26) was in 2021.

10/20 JETS | Pittsburgh leads the series 20-7. The Steelers are 1-3 since 2014, and their last series win (31-13) was in 2016.

10/28 GIANTS | Pittsburgh trails the series 8-9-1. The Steelers won (26-16) won the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series loss (14-21) dates back to 2008.

11/10 @ Commanders | Pittsburgh trails the series 8-9. The Steelers lost (17-23) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series win (38-16) was at the prior meeting in 2016.

11/17 RAVENS | Pittsburgh leads the series 35-25. The Steelers are 12-9 since 2014, and their last series home loss (14-16) was in 2022.

11/21 @ Browns | Pittsburgh leads the series 73-39-1. The Steelers are 14-6 since 2014, and their last series road win (15-10) was in 2021.

12/01 @ Bengals | The Steelers last series road loss (10-41) was in 2021.

12/08 BROWNS | The Steelers last series regular season home loss (13-33) dates back to 2003.

12/15 @ Eagles | Pittsburgh trails the series 6-13. The Steelers lost (13-35) the last meeting between teams in 2022, and their last series win (38-29) was at the prior meeting in 2016.

12/21 @ Ravens | The Steelers last series road loss (10-28) was in 2019.

12/25 CHIEFS | Pittsburgh leads the series 23-14. The Steelers lost (21-42) the last meeting between teams in 2021, and their last series win (19-13) was in 2017.

01/05 BENGALS | Pittsburgh leads the series 70-39. The Steelers are 16-5 since 2014, and their last series home loss (30-37) was in 2022.

Prediction: Home: 2-6
Road: 2-7
North: 2-4
AFC: 3-9
NFC: 1-4

Overall: 4-13 (4^th in AFC North)

Series Histories: Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day.
Meetings prior to 1966 are not included. Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place. For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2024, the game will be listed under the 2023 season.

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