Five Hot Takes For The Steelers Entering The 2024 Season

Every offseason, the Steelers seem to get counted out by almost every national media outlet before the ball even kicks off on the season. So far they’ve never been right though, as the Mike Tomlin train keeps on rolling, finding a way to win important games down the stretch. They love to lose games that they should win by double digits, which is just a Pittsburgh tradition at this point. These might be unpopular takes for the Steelers heading into 2024.

5. Pat Freiermuth Doubles His Totals From 2023

Last season was a weird one for Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth . Heading into a contract year and having a new offense to play in should benefit him greatly. He only appeared in 12 games last season and was greatly hindered by a couple of things. Bad quarterback play and an offensive coordinator who was trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

In his 12 games last season, Freiermuth made 32 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 25.7 yards per game. A huge letdown of a season compared to 2022 where he caught 63 passes for 732 yards and two touchdowns with an average of 45.8 yards per game.

With new quarterbacks and Arthur Smith at the helm, look for the Steeler’s tight end to have a bounce-back season. Especially with the lack of receiving talent that is currently in the room.

4. Stars On Defense Will Return To Form

The Steelers have a boatload of stars on the defensive side of the ball. They even added a new one this offseason in Patrick Queen , and the Steelers are hoping that addition helps some of the stars they already had get back to playing their game. Looking at Yinz, Minkah Fitzpatrick , and Cam Heyward .

Neither of those guys had a terrible season, but more so an injury-riddled campaign that found them struggling at times. Fitzpatrick only played in 10 games and was forced to play down in the box more, making 43 solo tackles. This season, Fitzpatrick will look to get back to playing his centerfield role, and the addition of DeShon Elliott should help that a ton. Look for more Fitzpatrick interceptions in 2024.

Heyward will also look to have a bounce-back season. He only played in 11 games last season due to a groin injury. In those 11 games, he was only able to pick up two sacks, six tackles for loss, and 33 total tackles. With Heyward likely feeling his window closing, expect him to go balls to the walls this season.

3. Steelers Will Average 20+ PPG On Offense

Steelers fans have had to watch a dismal offense for the last handful of years. Ever since Ben Roethlisberger ’s elbow injury, the offense seems to have been very elementary and unexciting. Last season, at the hands of Kenny Pickett and Matt Canada, the Steelers’ offense could only average 17.9 points per game.

The Steelers could’ve had at least two more wins last season if they could just hit the 20+ points per game plateau. In the wild landscape of the AFC, two wins means a ton. With the schedule the Steelers have in front of them, it is paramount that the offense can put up points and keep the defense off the field for extended periods. Time to get your lunch pail and go to work, Arthur Smith.

2. TJ Watt Breaks His Sack Record

Time to get crazy. The NFL Award voters might have made the wrong enemy last season when they elected a questionable Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett . Expect TJ Watt to take that personally. Watt deserved that award last season. He knows it, you know it, everybody knows it. Even Myles Garrett knows it, as he said that he’s been watching Watt’s film this summer to improve his game.

Watt led the NFL in sacks in three out of the last four seasons. The one he didn’t was the season he was hurt and only played 10 games. In 2021, Watt was able to tie Michael Strahan ’s NFL record of 22.5 sacks in a season, although there may be a scorekeeper error that held Watt from holding the sole position of that spot. Look for Watt to change that this season.

1. Steelers Make The Playoffs

Turn up the crazy meter, it’s getting spicy now. Many will say this is a stupid take, but until Mike Tomlin shows the world he won’t be competitive in a season, it’s hard for the people of Pittsburgh to believe otherwise.

The stretch from mid-November to the end of the season looks brutal on paper. Every divisional game and a game against the Eagles and Chiefs each. This may be a scorching hot take, but don’t be surprised when the Steelers are in the mix down the stretch.

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