Despite internal strife, Steelers might be AFC's best team
A lesser organization would've been sunk by the perpetual drama surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the writers for "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" run out of compelling stories in Season 14, they should forgo the Hidden Hills for a quick stop in Steel City.
But in spite of their internal strife, the Steelers may be the AFC's best team and enter November as a Super Bowl contender. How did we get here?
Martavis Bryant, the absurdly talented yet combustible receiver, is benched for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions due to a series of temper tantrums. Bryant, who returned from indefinite suspension prior to the season, is irate over his lack of touches and blasted teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster in a since-deleted Instagram post, saying the rookie is "nowhere near better than me, fool." Bryant is now trying to refute reports that he asked for a trade, and while the 25-year-old said he isn't trying to beef with his teammates, his demotion to the scout team is in response to his immaturity.
Bryant's soap opera shenanigans could be operating as a microcosm of the Steelers' offensive leadership. Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown have been at odds all season, despite the latter posting an MVP-worthy campaign. Brown went ballistic on the sidelines during an Oct. 1 victory over arch-rival Baltimore Ravens, throwing a Gatorade bucket while ignoring advice from offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Superstars getting upset during games isn't uncommon; Roethlisberger, however, validated the conflict in the media.
"I don't know he needs to react that way. He's superhuman on the football field, and when that happens, it almost brings him back to being a mere mortal, if you will. Because it gets in his head and it just messes with all of us a little bit. ... I'm not trying to call AB out. I just think this is causing a distraction that none of us really need," Roethlisberger said on Oct. 3.
Most teams would crumble if their five-time Pro Bowl quarterback and superstar wide receiver further engaged their feud in the media, but the Steelers are the picture of stability and have continued ticking. Brown is turning the NFL receiving title into an absolute joke, with 52 receptions for 765 yards and three touchdowns; A.J. Green ranks second with 545 yards. Roethlisberger and Brown don't have to buy each other Christmas cards, but they do need to keep this level of production if they hope to get to the Super Bowl together.
We've gone this far without mentioning Le'Veon Bell, and would be remiss to continue to do so, as the running back ranks second with 684 rushing yards. Bell's training camp holdout is ancient history at this point, but it's worth mentioning in a year full of conflict. The 25-year-old put his differences aside for the common good, and perhaps the rest of the Steelers could learn from him. Bell may be the NFL's best running back and is a weapon other AFC teams don't have.
The Steelers may not be working to their full capacity without contributions from Bryant, but it's still good enough. Pittsburgh ranks fifth in total offense and offensive DVOA, a formula devised to account for down-and-distance and quality of opponent. It appears Brown and Bell, along with Smith-Schuster, provide enough firepower between the three of them to consistently move the sticks.
Although the Steelers' identity is shrouded in offensive fireworks, the defense has been exceptional and may be the most underrated unit in the league. Pittsburgh ranks third in scoring defense (16.6 points allowed per game) and total defense, first in passing defense and second in sacks (24). Ryan Shazier is the AFC's best inside linebacker, T.J. Watt is showing signs of stardom, Joe Haden is having a resurgent campaign, and Cam Heyward has never been better. The Steelers have more than enough defensive talent to win a Super Bowl, even if their offense continues to wage war among themselves.
Pittsburgh may already be the AFC's best team with a strong defense and star-laden offense. The Steelers beat the Chiefs - one of the leading contenders in the AFC - while the Patriots look more vulnerable than they have in a half-decade due to a defense that's fallen off a cliff. Facing no competition within the AFC North, as the Ravens have wilted while the Browns and Bengals plan their rebuild, the AFC is for the taking.
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