The Pittsburgh Steelers Are Looking To Open Up Their Super Bowl Window
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Language changes throughout generations. Words like “bruh” and “yeet” have given way to new vernacular with younger generations while old curmudgeons shake their heads in disapproval at the evolution of the language they grew up with. Sports media is no different. Language has evolved and buzzwords have been established in recent years. One that pops into mind is the idea of the “Super Bowl Window.”
Fans in Pittsburgh sure hadn’t heard of that phrase 10 years ago. Did it not exist? Or was it unspoken around Heinz Field because the Steelers’ window was wide open since they drafted Ben Roethlisberger? It was a window so big that it was effectively invisible.
All of a sudden, Pittsburgh fans started hearing “Super Bowl Window…” just about a team over to the east. Joe Burrow made headlines a couple of years back stating that the Cincinnati Bengals’ window is open as long as he is at quarterback. Some believe that to be true of quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, and, of course Patrick Mahomes. It was true of Roethlisberger, after all.
This is not the case for the 2024 Steelers. Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl window has been cracked for the first time since Chase Claypool’s rookie season, and it isn’t because of Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, or their offensive prowess. Instead, it’s because of the defense. Their explosive, expensive, and aging defense.
Similar to the story of the Killer B’s offense never winning a Super Bowl, future Hall of Fame talents TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Heyward have carried the team with little to no help from their offensive counterparts. Some blamed an aging Big Ben before setting their sites on an undeveloped Kenny Pickett. Nevertheless, the defense has been on an island in recent memory, and it showed.
Of course, statistically, the defense has stifled scoring and beaten up opposing offenses. They were tied for sixth last year, allowing just 19.1 points per game, but would seemingly be worn down by the burden they had to carry for the team to succeed. The star-studded lineup has shown what that kind of wear and tear does to the body. Heyward limped through last season after missing eight weeks to recover from groin surgery. While some hold out hope that Heyward can return to his Pro Bowl form, his future in the NFL is questionable.
TJ Watt, like his older brother JJ, has been beaten up from head to toe. While TJ may not don the full-length elbow brace of his brother, he still has suffered significant injuries in the past few years. Notably, his groin, pectoral, and MCL have been injured in recent seasons. It’s not exactly telling tales out of school to say the Steelers’ record when TJ Watt is on the field (69-33-2) is much better than their record when he is not (1-10).
Fitzpatrick has fought through injuries and was sidelined for a significant portion of the 2023 campaign, which proved to be a difficult task to overcome. And of course, the entire inside linebacker room was bit by the injury bug in quick succession last year. Injuries are a part of the game. It’s an undeniable truth. However, the sheer number of injuries on the defensive side of the ball seems to correlate with the amount of snaps the defense played, particularly early in the season.
Not all hope is lost, though. With the headline installations of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and a hefty offensive draft class, the offense has real potential to hold up their end of the deal. Are they elite? Certainly not. But they don’t need to be. Instead, the offense just needs to be a top-half-of-the-league type of group, and they need to stay on the field.
With arguably the best dual-threat running backs in the league and a beefed-up offensive line, the Steelers have the potential to impose their will. Some local and national media types believe that Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren could both rush for 1,000-plus rushing yards, a feat that hasn’t taken place in well over a decade. Russell Wilson performs well in the types of offense that Smith runs, and should have at least some success with George Pickens and Pat Freiermuuth.
If the Steelers can deliver on a much-improved offensive unit, they will be able to limit amount of snaps for their defense, letting them rest and, Myron Cope willing, stay healthy.
It’s hard to say whether a top-15 offense is enough to get to a Super Bowl in today’s NFL, but with a healthy defense that should perform in the top 5, it’s reason for Steeler Nation to have some hope they can be a surprise team in 2024.
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