Execs Rank AFC

Sobering outside view of the team:

NFL execs rank AFC teams: Bills lead a jumble of contenders. Does anyone trust the Chiefs? - The Athletic

(just so it's understood, that is 10th in the AFC not the NFL)

10. Pittsburgh Steelers
Votes: 10-10-10-11-8-11 | Avg: 10.0 | Median: 10 | Vegas wins: 8.5 (T-9th-AFC)

Tier votes: Division contender: 1 | Sub-.500: 5

Five of the six execs had the Steelers 10th or 11th, lower than any execs had them in this exercise one year ago. Has Tomlin fatigue turned into Aaron Rodgers fatigue?

"Pittsburgh has been sick of Tomlin, hating the one-and-dones, but be careful what you wish for, because on paper, they have sub-.500 written all over them," one exec said. "A shaky O-line with an aging quarterback is not a good combo."

Rodgers' inability to move showed up disastrously against Houston's swarming defense in the playoffs.

Aaron Rodgers
"The quarterback is the quarterback, and he's polarizing," another exec said. "He ain't getting younger, and you question what exactly their offense is going to look like. They are old on defense. It can go quick there."

How polarizing is Rodgers?

"Pittsburgh with Rodgers is gonna be capable of beating anybody in any week," another exec said.

Most execs viewed this section of the rankings as one where a team or two might make a push, but only so far.

"(Mike) McCarthy obviously knows Aaron, and his offenses were good in Dallas," another exec said. "Adding (Michael) Pittman helps. But I don't see them having a great run game, so you are putting a lot of pressure on Rodgers."

This exec liked the addition of Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator and also thought McCarthy would be more aggressive in game management.

"Overall, though, this feels like an older team that is stuck," he said. "I don't see how they get better a year older and lacking continuity."