With Aaron Rodgers getting into the fold, the Pittsburgh Steelers have gained some respectability at quarterback for 2025. At age 41, the four-time MVP is just not what he as soon as was, after all. However no matter juice he has left may nonetheless make him higher than anybody else Pittsburgh has had at quarterback post-Ben Roethlisberger.
How a lot does Rodgers truly enhance the Steelers, although? The place do they now stand within the AFC pecking order? Mike Tomlin & Co. need to snap a six-game shedding streak within the playoffs.
As an example the place every AFC crew, together with the Steelers, stands within the convention, I’ve damaged them into 4 tiers.
SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS: Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens
No debate right here. These groups are the crème de la crème of the AFC. They’ve been the highest three seeds within the convention the previous two years. At the very least two of them have been within the prime three yearly since 2019. The final time none of them was a top-three seed was 2017.
The Chiefs are the three-time reigning AFC champions, in order that they’re the gold customary. Nevertheless it feels inevitable that the Payments and/or Ravens will break by the glass ceiling ultimately with star quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, respectively, of their primes.
SHOULD WIN A PLAYOFF GAME: Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have made the playoffs in back-to-back years. Each seasons ended with wild-card exits. Their beginning quarterbacks throughout that point have been Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
That is why, if all the things goes based on plan in Pittsburgh, Rodgers ought to have the ability to get the franchise a minimum of one postseason victory. Even at 41, he ought to present greater than the Steelers had with Rudolph, Pickett or Trubisky in 2023. And Rodgers’ ceiling at this level in his profession — wholesome, motivated for all 17 video games — would give the franchise an edge over what it had between Wilson and Fields final season. Pittsburgh nonetheless has a great protection, and its offense has gotten a lift this spring in DK Metcalf changing the traded George Pickens.
So far as the Broncos are involved, their upward trajectory ought to proceed so long as Bo Nix doesn’t hit a sophomore stoop. They’ve a powerful offensive line and one of many league’s finest defenses on paper.
ONE-AND-DONE IN PLAYOFFS: Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers
It’s laborious to think about the Bengals lacking the playoffs for a 3rd straight season with their core of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The persistent issues with their protection, although — together with the way forward for All-Professional edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who’s mired in a contract dispute with the crew — maintain them out of the higher echelon of the AFC.
On paper, the Texans nonetheless seem like the very best crew within the AFC South, however the unanswered questions on their offensive line maintain them out of true competition. C.J. Stroud’s sore shoulder is value monitoring, too.
If Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill are wholesome, the Dolphins have the firepower to be the runner-up to the Payments within the AFC East, regardless of issues about their secondary.
The Chiefs run the AFC West, however the Jim Harbaugh-led Chargers are value watching after successful 11 video games final season. Justin Herbert, who threw 4 interceptions in L.A.’s wild-card loss final season, needs to be loads motivated getting into 2025.
BETTER LUCK IN 2026: New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders
Amongst this group, the Patriots and Raiders intrigue me essentially the most as potential playoff groups.
In New England, combining Mike Vrabel’s pedigree as a confirmed head coach with Drake Maye’s expertise at quarterback might be the beginning of one thing particular. And in Geno Smith, Vegas has its finest quarterback since Derek Carr and a supremely gifted, first-round rookie operating again in Ashton Jeanty.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He coated the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You’ll be able to observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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