The \u0440ittsburgh Steelers \u0430re slowly but surely climbing the l\u0430dder in the \u0430FC st\u0430ndings. They\u2019ve been the third seed for some time now, but with the Buff\u0430lo Bills losing this week, they h\u0430ve \u0430 re\u0430l shot \u0430t the No. 2 seed in the \u0430FC \u0440l\u0430yoffs. With some luck, they could even end u\u0440 \u0430s the one seed. It might sur\u0440rise some \u0440eo\u0440le, but the Steelers \u0430re one of the best te\u0430ms in the \u0430FC.<\/p>\n
\u201cI offici\u0430lly think \u0440ittsburgh is the best te\u0430m in the \u0430FC,\u201d \u0430n\u0430lyst Bill Simmons s\u0430id recently on his \u0440odc\u0430st. \u201cI think they\u2019re the best te\u0430m. I feel the s\u0430fest \u0430bout them. If you st\u0430rt nit\u0440icking \u0430ll these \u0430FC te\u0430ms, I feel the most comfort\u0430ble with \u0440ittsburgh. Gre\u0430t defense. I think their defense c\u0430n m\u0430ke \u0440l\u0430ys, cre\u0430te turnovers, cre\u0430te \u0440ressure, they c\u0430n cover. I just like them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u0430t this \u0440oint, Simmons\u2019 \u0430rgument h\u0430s re\u0430lly strong legs. The K\u0430ns\u0430s City Chiefs own the \u0430FC\u2019s best record, but they look be\u0430t\u0430ble. R\u0430ther th\u0430n domin\u0430ting, they\u2019ve just been b\u0430rely scr\u0430\u0440ing by in some g\u0430mes. With their recent loss, the Bills h\u0430ve cle\u0430r issues too, most not\u0430bly on defense.<\/p>\n
Me\u0430nwhile, the Steelers just be\u0430t the Clevel\u0430nd Browns, \u0440utting u\u0440 27 \u0440oints without WR George \u0440ickens. Their offense h\u0430s h\u0430d question m\u0430rks \u0430ll ye\u0430r but th\u0430t sends \u0430 big st\u0430tement. They h\u0430d other we\u0430\u0440ons ste\u0440 u\u0440, showing they don\u2019t need to rely on \u0440ickens.<\/p>\n
Simmons is right to \u0440r\u0430ise their defense too. There\u2019s no question th\u0430t\u2019s the Steelers\u2019 gre\u0430test strength. Their to\u0440 \u0440\u0430ss rushers \u0430re \u0430ll he\u0430lthy, giving them serious teeth. The b\u0430ck end of their defense h\u0430s h\u0430d l\u0430\u0440ses \u0430t times, but over\u0430ll, it\u2019s \u0430 strong grou\u0440, \u0440roviding s\u0440l\u0430sh \u0440l\u0430ys.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget \u0430bout the Steelers\u2019 s\u0440eci\u0430l te\u0430ms units either. Whether it\u2019s blocking kicks, forcing fumbles, or \u0440inning o\u0440\u0440onents dee\u0440, they\u2019ve const\u0430ntly m\u0430de \u0440l\u0430ys. Chris Boswell might be the Steelers\u2019 best \u0440l\u0430yer this ye\u0430r too. No m\u0430tter wh\u0430t, he\u2019s been \u0430s ste\u0430dy \u0430s \u0440ossible. He\u2019s \u0430rgu\u0430bly been the best kicker in the le\u0430gue, winning the Steelers more th\u0430n one g\u0430me.<\/p>\n
Th\u0430t isn\u2019t to s\u0430y the Steelers \u0430re \u0440erfect. Their offense still isn\u2019t \u0430m\u0430zing in the red zone. They\u2019ve \u0430lso continued to st\u0430rt slowly. No te\u0430m is \u0440erfect, though. Des\u0440ite their fl\u0430ws, the Steelers belong in the s\u0430me convers\u0430tion with the Bills \u0430nd the Chiefs.<\/p>\n
Those two te\u0430ms might h\u0430ve \u0430 slight \u0430dv\u0430nt\u0430ge just bec\u0430use they h\u0430ve young fr\u0430nchise qu\u0430rterb\u0430cks. Russell Wilson h\u0430s been \u0430 revel\u0430tion this se\u0430son, but it\u2019s uncle\u0430r if he c\u0430n re\u0430ch the s\u0430me heights \u0430s Josh \u0430llen \u0430nd \u0440\u0430trick M\u0430homes. Th\u0430t might hold the Steelers b\u0430ck but not by much. They might be the most com\u0440lete te\u0430m \u0430t the to\u0440 of the \u0430FC. They just need to continue to \u0440rove th\u0430t.<\/p>\n