Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Betting
Against all expectations, Mike Tomlin kept his streak of 16 consecutive non-losing seasons alive. Tomlin holds the NFL record in this department, and Pittsburgh hasn’t finished below .500 since 2003. This looked to be the year that the Steelers ended up with a losing record with a rookie quarterback after a 2-6 start, but the Steelers rallied to go 7-2 the rest of the way and nearly snuck into the playoffs. There will be a decent amount of buzz surrounding the Steelers during the offseason, but their success in 2023 will largely depend on how Kenny Pickett develops this offseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 Season Recap
Almost every prognosticator had Pittsburgh pegged to finish at the bottom of the AFC North this season. The Steelers had one of the worst offenses in the league in 2021, and the team was rolling with a rookie quarterback in 2022. However, the defense stepped up in a big way, allowing Pittsburgh to finish over .500 and nearly make the playoffs.
Mitch Trubisky started the season under center for Pittsburgh, but it didn’t take long before Kenny Pickett took over the starting job. Pickett struggled early on, and he threw three interceptions in his debut against the New York Jets and tossed three picks in a narrow loss to the Miami Dolphins. However, the rookie only threw one interception in his last eight starts, helping Pittsburgh win the turnover battle and keep games close.
The big question hovering over Pickett’s development is whether or not he can be more than a game manager. That was a fine role for him to take as a rookie, especially given the talent on defense, but any first-round quarterback is expected to be a difference maker. Pickett was a marginal quarterback through his first three seasons at Pitt before exploding in his senior season, and that’s the player the Steelers need to see going forward.
Najee Harris had another fine season even though he averaged just 3.8 YPC. Pittsburgh’s offensive line isn’t good, but Harris continues to churn out tough yards and ran for 1,038 yards and seven touchdowns this year. Harris finished with 41 receptions for 229 yards and three touchdowns too, making some acrobatic plays to get extra yards as a dump off option for these QBs.
Pittsburgh has to feel good about its receiving corps as rookie George Pickens had a great NFL debut. The second-round pick caught 52 passes for 801 yards and four touchdowns, and he was by far the most prolific big play threat. Conversely, Diontae Johnson made dubious history as the player with the most receptions in a season not to score a touchdown. Johnson caught 86 passes for 882 yards but failed to find the end zone in 17 games. That has led to Johnson requesting a trade this offseason, and we’ll see whether or not it’s granted.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth is the next in a long line of solid players at this position for the Steelers. Freiermuth caught 63 passes for 732 yards and two touchdowns and blocking tight end Connor Heyward got more involved in the passing game as the season went on too.
The Steelers were solid on defense this season, allowing 20.4 PPG and 330.4 YPG. Pittsburgh was without NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt for seven games though, and the team greatly missed his presence in those tilts. Alex Highsmith stepped up in a big way with Watt gone and led the team with 14.5 sacks. Cam Heyward had a great year too with 10.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss at defensive tackle.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was the star of the secondary and tied for the league lead with six interceptions on his way to making another Pro Bowl appearance. Pittsburgh really needs to improve at cornerback though because the options aren’t great, and Fitzpatrick can only do so much.
Pittsburgh Steelers Schedule & Results
Pittsburgh is a legacy franchise in the NFL. The Steelers have one of the NFL’s largest fan bases, and the TV networks love them. Thus, Pittsburgh remains a desirable property for prime-time games.
The Steelers are at the Cleveland Browns in a Prime Video rivalry matchup in week three. The Browns and Steelers have been bitter rivals since 1950.
The Steelers are at the Miami Dolphins on NBC Sunday Night Football in week seven. The Steelers return to NBCSNF in week 11 when they host the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.
And then, in Week 16, the Steelers will host the Las Vegas Raiders on NFL Network on the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception game. In 1972 the Steelers beat the Raiders on the game’s final play when a Terry Bradshaw pass bounced off what was thought to be a Raider player into the arms of Franco Harris, who ran it in for the score. That playoff win was the springboard to a Steeler dynasty.
Pittsburgh Steelers Past Seasons (2000)
YEAR |
RECORD |
PLAYOFFS |
2022 |
9-7 |
None |
2021 |
9-7-1 |
Lost Wild Card Round |
2020 |
12-4 |
Lost Wild Card Round |
2019 |
8-8 |
None |
2018 |
9-6-1 |
None |
2017 |
13-3 |
Lost Divisional Round |
2016 |
11-5 |
Lost Conference Championship |
2015 |
10-6 |
Lost Divisional Round |
2014 |
11-5 |
Lost Wild Card Round |
2013 |
8-8 |
None |
2012 |
8-8 |
None |
2011 |
12-4 |
Lost Wild Card Round |
2010 |
12-4 |
Lost Super Bowl |
2009 |
9-7 |
None |
2008 |
12-4 |
Won Super Bowl |
2007 |
10-6 |
Lost Wild Card Round |
2006 |
8-8 |
None |
2005 |
11-5 |
Won Super Bowl |
2004 |
15-1 |
Lost Conference Championship |
2003 |
6-10 |
None |
2002 |
10-5-1 |
Lost Divisional Round |
2001 |
13-3 |
Lost Conference Championship |
2000 |
9-7 |
None |
The Rooney family has owned the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1933. Original owner Art Rooney bought the franchise after hitting a big bet on a horse race. As incredible as it sounds, the Steelers were not a success in the first four decades under Rooney’s ownership. In fact, they were a laughingstock. From 1933 through 1971, the Steelers had one playoff appearance.
In 1972 the franchise saw a dramatic turnaround that has lasted until today. Pittsburgh made the playoffs as AFC Central champions. In the 1972 AFC divisional playoffs, the Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders with the famed “Immaculate Reception.” The franchise took off with eight consecutive playoff appearances and four Super Bowl titles.
Stability is the hallmark of the Steelers. Since 1969 they have had three head coaches. Mike Tomlin has served in that role since 2007.
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