Steelers' Impressive Streak Of Non-Losing Seasons Is Expected To Break In 2024

This is not the first time the Steelers have been underestimated by the powers that be in Vegas. Their win total in 2023 was also set at 8.5 games, and they shattered that mark by winning 10, and making an appearance in the playoffs. In 2022, the first season in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era, Vegas had the Steelers win total set at 7.5 games. This win total was understandable, and it probably should have been lower as the Steelers were planning on starting Mitch Trubisky, before Kenny Pickett took his starting job in Week 4. Regardless, Pittsburgh finished 9-8, proving Vegas wrong once again.

The Steelers are set to take on a gauntlet of teams in 2024, having to face the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys. They also need to play the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals twice each. The AFC North managed to send three teams to the playoffs in 2023, with the odd man out being Cincinnati, who lost Joe Burrow for the season due to an injury. It should be expected that Cincinnati will return with a vengeance, making the Steelers' schedule within the division and outside of the division difficult. 

The Steelers rank third in the entire NFL when it comes to strength of schedule for the 2024 season, with the only two teams ahead of them being the Ravens and Browns. This was calculated based off of their 2024 opponents' win percentage during the 2023 season, and the Steelers' 2024 opponents had a winning percentage of 53 percent in 2023. This is certainly a fair metric as to why the Steelers' win total for 2024 is lower than expected, but Tomlin has proven he can win in various difficult situations and should expect to extend his non-losing season streak to 18.

Steelers Expected To Finish Third Or Fourth In The AFC North

Burrow will be back to full health for the Bengals in 2024, which makes finishing atop the AFC North a lot harder for Pittsburgh. According to DraftKings, the Steelers and Browns are tied for the lowest win total in the AFC North at 8.5. The Ravens' line is set at 11.5, while the Bengals are expected to bounce back as their line sits at 10.5. According to these projections, the Ravens are expected to repeat as AFC North champions with the Bengals finishing right behind them, while the Steelers and Browns fight to avoid coming in last place in the division. 

Will the Steelers continue their trend of avoiding losing seasons and proving Vegas wrong in 2024?