The first two-plus months of the 2020 season couldn’t have gone any better for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They started the season 11-0 and were in a great position to have a first-round bye in the AFC. However, things went terribly wrong after losing to the Washington Football Team in Week 14, and the Steelers would wind up losing five of their final six games, including a blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the playoffs.
Heading into the 2021 season, the Steelers look like a franchise that could be in for a ton of change. They’ve already moved on from their offensive coordinator and offensive line coach and will likely lose several key starters in free agency. So, what are their odds at PA sports betting sites to get to and win Super Bowl 2022? Let’s dive in.
Steelers 2022 AFC Conference Championship Odds
With the Chiefs making back-to-back Super Bowls, it’s not surprising they are the overwhelming favorites once again to the win the AFC. But what is surprising is that the Steelers have seen their odds to win the conference drop in a major way. At DraftKings sportsbook PA, their odds to win the AFC sit at +1400 after Super Bowl LV with nine teams in the conference with better odds.
Despite an 11-0 to start the 2020 season, the Steelers likely missed their championship window and could soon be in a total rebuild as they are well over the cap and have an aging roster. Ben Roethlisberger's contract (runs through 2021) will likely determine some of their odds as his potential retirement would dramatically drop their chances of winning the AFC. Even if Roethlisberger returns, oddsmakers don’t love their chances of potentially reaching Super Bowl 2022.
It also doesn’t help that they are in one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL. The Browns (who knocked the Steelers out of the playoffs) and the Ravens both advanced to the 2021 Divisional Round of the playoffs and seem to be on the upswing. Combine that with the Steelers playing a first-place schedule in 2021, and it’s not hard to see them falling to second or third in their division.
Steelers Odds To Win Super Bowl 2022
Heading into this offseason, the Steelers are +3000 to win next year’s Super Bowl. Currently, 14 teams have better odds than the Steelers and two other teams (Cowboys and Patriots) sit at the same number. Is there value on that number for the Steelers? Maybe. Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season during his history with the Steelers and Pittsburgh should have one of the best defenses in the NFL again next season.
Even if Pittsburgh does lose players like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bud Dupree in free agency, they have enough depth at the right spots to survive. But the question is, can they compete in the playoffs and win games AFC's against best?
Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff game since 2016 and it's pretty clear that Roethlisberger is no longer an elite quarterback. And in a conference with Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, it’s tough to imagine Pittsburgh getting over the hump now if they couldn’t do it in 2020 with a better roster.
The Steelers should win at least nine games next season, but the 30-1 odds on them to win the Super Bowl seem almost generous – to the Steelers.
