The 2024 NFL season is finally here. It begins on Thursday evening with the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Baltimore Ravens on NBC. Like every year around this time, below you’ll find my final regular season results and my playoff predictions for the upcoming season, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers. But first, have a little fun by checking out my predictions from this time last season.
Let’s get to my thoughts for 2024.
So what do I think about the 2024 Steelers? Well, I’m certainly not very optimistic about 2024. Last year, I was too optimistic about the Steelers after the preseason, seeing them go 11-6 with QB Kenny Pickett. Although the 2023 Steelers finished with a 10-7 record and were in the playoffs to boot, that was quite an accomplishment considering everything that happened during the season. The offense was terrible and the defense had to deal with numerous injuries, several of which occurred at the inside linebacker position. The 2023 Steelers team lost a few games that looked easy on paper. Despite that, and largely thanks to QB Mason Rudolph, they made the playoffs, losing to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round.
The Steelers rebuilt their quarterback squad last offseason with Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen. They also signed three young offensive linemen via the 2024 NFL Draft: T Troy Fautanu, C Zach Frazier and G Mason McCormick. ILB Patrick Queen was a nice addition via free agency this offseason, and the prospects of ILB Payton Wilson, another 2024 draft pick, are just good.
As part of their offseason trades, the Steelers traded WR Diontae Johnson for CB Donte Jackson. However, the wide receiver room has not been rebuilt well on paper. In addition to the strong George Pickens, the offense now has several options at No. 3 and No. 4 to complement him: Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller. Although the team also signed WR Roman Wilson in the 2024 NFL Draft, his rookie season will get off to an awfully slow start due to an ankle injury.
The Steelers were fortunate to hire a better offensive coordinator last offseason in Arthur Smith, the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Nevertheless, Smith’s offense will rely primarily on a successful running game in formations with two or more tight ends. How quickly the offensive line comes together in 2024 will determine how good running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren can be on the ground.
As for the Steelers defense in 2024, I’m not too worried, especially if everyone stays healthy. Their front seven is one of the best in the NFL. CB Joey Porter Jr. should take another step in improving his game in 2024, and it’s nice to see S Minkah Fitzpatrick healthy again. The 2024 Steelers defense will have to play very well if this team wants to win more than eight games.
The Steelers signed a reliable punter in Cameron Johnston this offseason, and that’s another reason to be excited before the start of the 2024 season. However, I wonder how good the punt coverage team will be, especially when it comes to the gunner positions.
The Steelers are, at least as of this post, the lowest cash spender team in the NFL for 2024. Most of the money they’ve invested in their team for 2024 is on defense. However, it seems like they could have done a better job on offensive spending. They’ve needed a compliment for Pickens since Johnson was traded in March, and they never added one. It’s too bad the whole Brandon Aiyuk thing never came to fruition. The Steelers offense seems to lack big-time playmakers other than Pickens. That’s concerning.
I entered this week assuming the Steelers would reach a 10-7 record in the 2024 season and potentially push themselves back into the playoffs with such a record. However, when news broke on Thursday that Wilson may still be dealing with his calf issue, I added another game to the loss column for the 2024 Steelers. While I like Fields’ overall skill set, I think Wilson gives the team a better chance to win an extra game or two. Now I’m worried that even if Wilson is cleared to start the season on Sunday, we haven’t heard the last of his calf injury.
To put it more simply, I’m worried about the Steelers’ offense in 2024. I’m also worried about the second half of the schedule, which includes all six of the Steelers’ AFC North games in eight weeks. That’s a hell of a task, and it includes games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. Unless the Steelers play their best in their first eight games, which means at least a 5-3 record, it’s hard to imagine them getting 10 wins.
After changing my mind this week, I now expect the Steelers to finish the 2024 regular season with a record of 9-8. I really hope I’m wrong. If HC Mike Tomlin can lead this team to 11 or more wins, I think he should win the 2024 NFL Head Coach of the Year award. A 9-8 record probably won’t get the Steelers into the playoffs, so I don’t think they’ll have the edge in terms of postseason prospects.
Unfortunately, I expect the Steelers to finish third in the AFC North in 2024, behind the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. I also expect them to go 3-3 in divisional games in 2024. Even if the Steelers make the 2024 playoffs, winning a wild card game would be a major accomplishment. If they don’t win a playoff in 2024, the spot will surely be highly coveted for Tomlin and GM Omar Khan as well. Teams need to be above average at the quarterback position to compete for a Super Bowl title. In my opinion, neither Wilson nor Fields are above average.
Ultimately, I’m predicting a San Francisco 49ers win against the Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch in 2023.
Enjoy the 2024 season and hope I’m off by at least a few wins. Let me know your predictions for the 2024 Steelers and the rest of the NFL in the comments below. Thanks for reading.
| PREDICTED FINAL STANDINGS OF THE 2024 NFL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN SOCCER CONFERENCE | |||
| AFC East | B | M | T |
| Buffalo Bills | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 3 | 14 | 0 |
| AFC North | B | M | T |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| The Cleveland Browns | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| AFC South | B | M | T |
| Houston Texans | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 5 | 12 | 0 |
| AFC West | B | M | T |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 6 | 11 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 4 | 13 | 0 |
| NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE | |||
| NFC East | B | M | T |
| Dallas Cowboys | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 5 | 12 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 4 | 13 | 0 |
| NFC North | B | M | T |
| Detroit Lions | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 6 | 11 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 3 | 14 | 0 |
| NFC South | B | M | T |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | 2 | 15 | 0 |
| NFC West | B | M | T |
| San Francisco 49ers | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| The Seattle Seahawks | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 3 | 14 | 0 |
NFC WILD CARD ROUND
Packers beat Buccaneers
Cowboys beat Eagles
49ers beat Saints
NFC Divisional Round
49ers beat Cowboys
Packers beat Lions
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
49ers beat Packers
AFC WILD CARD ROUND
Dolphins beat Bengals
Bills beat Jaguars
Texans beat Jets
AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
Texans beat Bills
Chiefs beat Dolphins
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Chiefs beat Texans
SUPERBOWL59
49ers beat Chiefs
