The Pittsburgh Steelers reached the postseason last year and have consistently remained competitive under head coach Mike Tomlin. However, despite routinely finishing above .500, they continue to struggle to secure a playoff win.
During an appearance on the “Rich Eisen Show,” NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah spoke about the Aaron Rodgers signing and what it means for the Steelers and their playoff hopes.
Daniel Jeremiah Says the Aaron Rodgers Steelers Will Win 9 to 11 Games
With the Steelers, you know exactly what you will get.
They rarely have the roster to push them to the next level, but they usually have enough talent to at least reach the postseason. Having lost in the wild-card round in four of the last five years, the Steelers will look to change that narrative with Rodgers under center.
“I think just talent-wise, Rodgers, even at this point in the very end of his career, he’s still more talented than what they ran out there last year,” Jeremiah said. “To me, I think you’ve upgraded in talent, and I like the fact that this is not an Aaron Rodgers-led organization in terms of the offense they’re running and the players they’ve brought in.”
Jeremiah continued, “The Steelers never have losing seasons. I don’t think it’s very controversial to say this is going to be a 10-win team. It just feels like they’re going to be a good team, they’re going to be in the playoffs, but he’s not good enough, nor is the roster good enough for them to do a lot of damage in the postseason.”
Jeremiah also discussed how the team is built, saying they “lack the firepower” needed to compete in the AFC, where elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson set the standard.
Rodgers got his first taste of the AFC last season, playing a full year with the New York Jets, something he wasn’t able to do in 2023. Rodgers managed just five wins with the Jets and now joins a team with much higher expectations after winning 10 games last season.
With the Cincinnati Bengals aiming to lock up a playoff spot after narrowly missing out last year, the road ahead won’t be easy for Rodgers and company. The Baltimore Ravens are still the favorites in the AFC North, and Rodgers will have to outduel both Burrow and Jackson twice this season.
If the Steelers want to take the next step and make a deep postseason run, Rodgers will need to stay healthy and deliver vintage performances against some of the league’s toughest competition. With an experienced coach in Tomlin and a roster that has shown promise, Pittsburgh is hoping this gamble pays off and finally lifts them beyond just a playoff appearance.