Are the @steelers legit AFC contenders???🤔 pic.twitter.com/A7tTnNTPKT
— GMFB (@gmfb) June 22, 2020
“Ever since they won the Super Bowl in ’06 and ’09, those Super Bowls were led by a great run game and a stingy defense. Ben Roethlisberger — I’m not saying that he didn’t have to make any plays — but he kind of just had to manage things and not mess things up. Ever since we’ve had to see this Steelers team have to lean on Ben Roethlisberger’s arm to win games consistently, it just hasn’t happened.
Robinson continued to say that the addition of Roethlisberger makes the Steelers legit but also questioned his leadership related to why Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell are no longer part of the organization.
“At the end of the day, Ben Roethlisberger, he has to be better when he is healthy.”
Robinson obviously forgot about the 2018 season when Roethlisberger had a career year in competitions (452), attempts (675), and yardage (5129). Unfortunately, even with those numbers, the Steelers still went 9-6-1.
“Here’s what I know: They don’t go three years without making the playoffs — it hasn’t happened in 20 years,” said Kyle Brandt. “They open up Monday night against the Giants and then they have this sleepy schedule. We’re not going to talk about them for a while unless they start ripping off wins.”
Brandt says that it’s almost impossible to answer right now if the Steelers are legit division contenders because of the questions surrounding Roethlisberger. “How is he on 3rd and 12? I have no idea.”
He said that he would never count on the Steelers to be a third year out of the playoffs, so he believes the team will have a say in the conference this season.
Peter Schrager doesn’t put the Steelers in the same conversation at the Kansas City Chiefs. “I haven’t seen that version of the Steelers in three years… I want to wait and see what version of Ben Roethlisberger we get.”
Kay Adams steps in as the devil’s advocate. “To have all of them back and have that defense … I am in on the Steelers.”
I would imagine the stance of Robinson, Brandt and Schrager will be the popular opinion of the Steelers this offseason and heading into the regular season. I say let the pundits discount the Steelers — that way, it’ll be all the more enjoyable when they surprise everyone.
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