Thursday, December 30, 2021

Pittsburgh Steelers Week 17 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Pittsburgh Steelers rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 19.8 (20th)
  • Best ranking: 18 (CBS Sports)
  • Worst ranking: 21 (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 17 roundup for the Steelers in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 19

Non-QB MVP: OLB T.J. Watt

Watt has proved to be a bellwether for the Steelers this season. When Watt plays less than 50% of snaps, including games he has missed completely with injury, the Steelers are 0-4-1. With two games left in the regular season, Watt is five sacks away from tying Michael Strahan's NFL record of 22.5. Watt earned a massive payday just before the season, and even though he has missed two games with injury, he has been a great investment by keeping the Steelers afloat in a jumbled AFC. -- Brooke Pryor

NFL.com -- Rank: 20

The evidence is everywhere now: Pittsburgh is not a very good football team. The Steelers' playoff hopes are on life support following a blowout loss to the Chiefs that once again put a spotlight on Pittsburgh's offensive ineptitude. The team's first-half struggles are taking on historic proportions: The Steelers have been outscored 97-9 in the opening 30 minutes of their last five games, failing to score a single first-half touchdown in the process. You have to go back to 1940 to find the last Steelers team to manage that, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN). Pittsburgh can still find its way to the postseason with back-to-back wins and some help, but the bigger picture is clear: Significant changes are necessary.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 18

They did little on offense against the Chiefs, which shows their fatal flaws. They can still get into the playoffs, but it's a long shot.

USA Today -- Rank: 21

Pathetic showing Sunday, but especially by a defense that adds up to far less than sum of its parts and might need free agent upgrades in 2022.

The Athletic -- Rank: 21

Is he The Guy? No. Father Time has brought the big man down, and it's become painfully clear that Ben Roethlisberger is not the guy anymore. He knows this and the smart money is on him retiring in three weeks. Will the Steelers go for a major rebuild or squeeze in a veteran like Matt Ryan and try to make another playoff run with this bunch?

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