The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 schedule is not a friendly one, as they will face a challenge after their bye week, which includes all of their divisional games with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Some have called it one of the toughest schedules they've seen in years, as the AFC North is one of the toughest divisions in football this season.
However, Pro Football Hall of Famer and legendary Steelers running back Jerome Bettis believes his former team is looking at the schedule and salivating.
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Jerome Bettis signs a football during Touchdowns on the Green, the inaugural Tim & Sherice Brown Celebrity Golf Invitational to Blitz Human Trafficking tournament ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Topgolf Las Vegas on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
This is because he feels they are primed to be one of the “top teams” in the NFL this year.
“I think the Steelers are going to be one of those top-tier teams that everyone else is going to look at on their schedule like, 'Oh, wow, they're going to be a tough team to beat.' So I'm excited about the season and the schedule,” he told Fox News Digital while sharing his excitement about co-hosting the Aire Serv Ultimate Fantasy Football Draft party in Nashville, Tennessee this August.
Of course, Bettis always thinks optimistically about his old team, but there's a big reason behind his excitement for the season.
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The Steelers notably added two new quarterbacks this offseason, a major upgrade at a position where they desperately need consistency. Russell Wilson was added on a veteran's minimum contract after the Denver Broncos cut ties with him after two seasons, and Justin Fields was also signed after that.
Despite Wilson's difficult time at Mile High, Bettis believes he showed last season that he can still lead an offense, and a leader is what the Steelers need on that side of the ball.
“I think when you look at Russell Wilson and his career, go back a year,” Bettis explained. “Obviously, coming out of Denver, he was playing very good football. Two years ago, maybe not as good. But last year, he was able to correct the mistakes, he was able to really go out and lead that football team. When he had those opportunities, the took advantage.
“So, that tells me that if you put a good system around him, put some good football players around him, he'll be successful. That's the promising part of all of this: He's a quality quarterback. That's really the only piece.” “What the Steelers were really lacking was quarterback play. If you put it into practice, you now have a championship-quality football team. That's what I believe.”
Russell Wilson watches before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park on April 19, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Bettis also loves the “two-headed monster” Fields provides in the quarterback room, especially considering he told reporters he doesn't plan to sit out the entire season. That shows Bettis that he's not happy being the backup quarterback, and that's not a bad thing. Rather, he creates great competition every day in practice for Wilson, and if it comes time for Fields to get the nod, he'll be ready.
However, the Steelers will need to click in all phases if they want to make the playoffs again this season, as the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and last year's AFC No. 1 seed, the Baltimore Ravens, are all set for the playoffs. equipment.
How do you get through a second half when you'll have to face all of those teams twice, plus Philadelphia and Kansas City?
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“Well, the key is health,” Bettis responded. “I think if this football team is healthy, it's going to be one of the best teams in the NFL. It's going to be one of those where there are going to be some really good football games down the stretch. I don't think it's going to be like that.” There is any game they can't win. I think that's all you want as a football player.
“When I played, we had the schedule. We looked at it and there was never a game where we thought we had no chance of winning. That's what you see with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you can get consistent quarterback play, there's no It's a team on the schedule that the Steelers can't beat. They have a really good defense and I expect them to play at a high level.
“Offensively, if you can put up points, you'll be a tough team to beat.”
FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH MESSAGE
Not only will Bettis be ready to give his best fantasy football tips to fans at the Air Serv Ultimate Fantasy Football Draft Party in Nashville, but he also wants to help those who may not be aware of how important quality is. of the air in their homes.
Bettis, diagnosed with asthma at age 14, knows the big difference fresh air makes in his life and is helping Air Serv, a Neighborly company that is one of the leading HVAC teams in the country, change lives of many people within their community. own houses.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis poses. (air service)
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“People don't really think that's a problem until there's a problem,” Bettis said. “That's why I've been fortunate enough to work with Air Serv and really show and tell people that there are problems in their home that they're not aware of.”
Fans have until June 30 to enter for a chance to win and meet Bettis at the party on August 10.
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