The Pittsburgh Steelers got a crack at winning the AFC last season, only to fall to New England in the conference championship game. That result has the Steelers second to the Pats in the list of favorites entering 2017. The Steelers have a strong cast and are deserving of their favorite status, but there’s always that Patriots mystique that hangs over teams in the AFC and getting over that isn’t easy.
AFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
New England Patriots +190
Pittsburgh Steelers +675
Oakland Raiders +700
Kansas City Chiefs +1000
Houston Texans +1200
Denver Broncos +1300
Indianapolis Colts +1500
Baltimore Ravens +1700
Tennessee Titans +2000
Cincinnati Bengals +2300
Miami Dolphins +2500
Los Angeles Chargers +3500
Jacksonville Jaguars +3500
Buffalo Bills +4500
Cleveland Browns +15000
New York Jets +15000
Key Players for Winning the AFC
Ben Roethlisberger – Big Ben hinted at retirement following Pittsburgh’s loss to New England in last season’s AFC Championship Game, but that disastrous loss was too much to end a Hall of Fame career with. Roethlisberger is back and so are the pieces for an offense that has a chance at being the most lethal in the NFL this season. Roethlisberger has perhaps two of the best position players at his disposal in Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown and Big Ben said a few season’s back that this group could average 30 points per game. They haven’t reached that lofty number, but they’ll keep trying. And if Roethlisberger can stay healthy, they certainly have a chance at averaging 30 points a game and getting back to the conference title game.
Le’Veon Bell – Roethlisberger is the engine that drives the unit but Bell is the player that gives it another gear. He played just 12 games in a suspension-shortened 2016 but still managed to put up MVP-type numbers. Bell ran for 1,268 yards, coming up less than 100 yards from his season career-high when he played a full slate of games. Bell is also a threat in the passing game which makes him so valuable. He caught 75 passes last season for 616 yards and averaged over 100 yards on the ground and 50 through the air. He possesses the versatility that allows other quarterbacks on the roster to be successful, and given Big Ben’s injury history over the past few seasons, Bell might be relied on a bit more in 2017.
Ryan Shazier – The Steelers aren’t all about offense, though it seems like it with all the weapons on that side of the football. Defensively, the group held its own last season and ranked 10th in points allowed per game. However, there is a wrinkle in 2017. Starting inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons left the Steel City as a free agent leaving Shazier as the main man in the middle of the team’s 3-4 defensive scheme. Shazier was a Pro Bowl pick in 2016 after amassing 87 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions. Now, he’s the unquestioned leader of the defense and will be asked to do even more. And that includes mentoring Vince Williams, who takes over for Timmons. Williams played every game last season, but was used mainly on special teams. He’s made just six starts over the previous three seasons and will benefit from the guidance of Shazier.
Offensive Line – Roethlisberger puts up huge numbers and the playmakers are just that because they have time to make them. And that all starts up front with a group that is one of the best in the NFL. The Steelers didn’t add to their line this offseason because they didn’t need to. All five starters from last season are back led by Pro Bowl picks center Maurkice Pouncey and guard David DeCastro. The group allowed just 17 sacks of Roethlisberger last season and 21 total, the second lowest total in the NFL. Keeping Big Ben upright and healthy is a must and the group proved to be exceptional at its job. Injuries take a toll over the course of a season and the line will see a slight falloff if somebody needs to be replaced. But the Steelers have a group of backups that would likely be starters on other teams. There’s no reason why Pittsburgh shouldn’t continue to roll offensively with a line that’s as dominant in all aspects of the game as the Steelers.
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