Mike Tomlin has had Ben Roethlisberger as his quarterback for his entire NFL career, with 2019 the only season in which Roethlisberger wasn’t at the helm for at least 12 games. Since starting his head coaching career in 2007, Tomlin hasn’t posted a losing season with the Steelers, making his streak an NFL-record 15 seasons at .500 or above to begin his career.
In 2022, Tomlin may have the toughest time in his career keeping that streak alive. Ben Roethlisberger will be replaced by, most likely, Mitch Trubisky in Week 1. Trubisky is a largely unknown quantity this season. He was 29-21 as a starter with the Bears, and he may be able to replicate that success in Pittsburgh. But the Steelers aren’t looking for .500, so the roster differences go beyond quarterback.
This season will see some new faces in Pittsburgh. Cole Mason and James Daniels will take over at center and right guard, respectively. The defense now features Myles Jack at linebacker and Levi Wallace at cornerback, while the core will stay intact.
Tomlin, for his part, didn’t betray any interest in his streak after continuing it last season by winning Game 16 to move to 8-7-1 on the year, clinching .500 or better (the Steelers would finish 9-7-1 on the year).
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“Not as I sit here today, and I say that humbly,” Tomlin said last season when asked if the new record was meaningful to him, per ESPN. “Our agenda, this year, is to get into [the] single-elimination tournament and then pit our skills against others in that single-elimination tournament in an effort to win the world championship.”
What does the Steelers schedule look like in 2022?
The Steelers are tied for the 12th-toughest schedule in the NFL, going off of last year’s record. Their opposing winning percentage in 2021 is at .512.
Highlights include games against the Raiders, Buccaneers, Saints, Bills, and of course two bouts with the defending AFC champion Bengals.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV |
| 1 | Sept. 11 | at Bengals | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 2 | Sept. 18 | vs. Patriots | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 3 | Sept. 22 | at Browns (Thursday) | 8:15 p.m. ET | Amazon Prime Video |
| 4 | Oct. 2 | vs. Jets | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 5 | Oct. 9 | at Bills | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 6 | Oct. 16 | vs. Buccaneers | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 7 | Oct. 23 | at Dolphins | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| 8 | Oct. 30 | at Eagles | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 9 | BYE | — | — | — |
| 10 | Nov. 13 | vs. Saints | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 11 | Nov. 20 | vs. Bengals | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| 12 | Nov. 28 | at Colts (Monday) | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 13 | Dec. 4 | at Falcons | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 14 | Dec. 11 | vs. Ravens | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 15 | Dec. 18 | at Panthers | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 16 | Dec. 24 | vs. Raiders (Saturday) | 8:15 p.m. ET | NFL Network |
| 17 | Jan. 1 | at Ravens | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 18 | Jan. 7/8 | vs. Browns | TBD | TBD |
Worth noting, of course, is that the Steelers will play a Browns team missing Deshaun Watson in Week 3 before closing the season against them after he’s served his 11-game suspension.
The Sporting News, for its part, has projected the Steelers at a 10-7 record this year, which would make it 16 straight years without a losing season for Tomlin if it comes to pass.
What is the Steelers over/under this season?
The over/under on the Steelers’ win total is currently set at 7.5, per Sports Interaction.
In other words, oddsmakers don’t expect the Steelers to keep the streak alive. This could make Pittsburgh a strong value play, for bettors who don’t want to go against Tomlin.
According to Sports Interaction, as of this week they’re set for -115 for the over and the under.
It won’t be easy for the Steelers, of course, and odds are bettors are going to have to sweat. But as an underdog, the Steelers tend to exceed expectations.
What does the Steelers roster look like in 2022?
Although the Steelers will have a new face in the most influential position on the field, they are returning a lot of players on both sides of the ball. Most notably is the newly extended Diontae Johnson, a wide receiver with superstar upside, and rookie George Pickens, who impressed during the preseason.
MORE: Steelers’ Pickens makes Sporting News All-Preseason team
Defensively, the aforementioned Wallace and Jack are the biggest differences, with incumbents T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick serving as stalwarts on that side of the ball. Honorable mention goes to Devin Bush, who had his fifth-year option declined and is playing for a new contract in what could be an inflection point in his new career.
2022 Steelers offense
| Position | Starter | Backup |
| Quarterback | Mitchell Trubisky* | Kenny Pickett* |
| Running Back | Najee Harris | Benny Snell Jr. |
| Wide Receiver | Diontae Johnson | — |
| Wide Receiver | George Pickens* | — |
| Wide Receiver | Chase Claypool | — |
| Tight End | Pat Freiermuth | Zach Gentry |
| Left Tackle | Dan Moore | Joe Haeg |
| Left Guard | Kevin Dotson | Kendrick Green |
| Center | Cole Mason* | J.C. Hassenauer |
| Right Guard | James Daniels* | John Leglue |
| Right Tackle | Chukwuma Okorafor | Trent Scott* |
* = new addition
Harris, Johnson and Pickens have the potential to create a formidable core for the Steelers, but their success will rest with Trubisky and, if he can’t get the job done, Pickett. The rookie will likely garner support quickly — those are the perils of drafting a hometown player — but Trubisky will have a chance to make his bones.
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2022 Steelers defense
| Position | Starter | Backup |
| Defensive End | Larry Ogunjobi* | Chris Wormley |
| Nose Tackle | Tyson Alualu | Montravius Adams |
| Defensive Tackle | Cameron Heyward | Isaiahh Loudermilk |
| EDGE | T.J. Watt | Ron’Dell Carter |
| Inside Linebacker | Devin Bush | Robert Spillane |
| Inside Linebacker | Myles Jack* | Marcus Allen |
| Outside Linebacker | Alex Highsmith | Derrek Tuszka |
| Cornerback | Levi Wallace* | James Pierre |
| Strong Safety | Terrell Edmunds | Damontae Kazee |
| Free Safety | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Tre Norwood |
| Cornerback | Ahkello Witherspoon | Justin Lane |
* = new addition
Heyward, Watt, Bush and Fitzpatrick form the nucleus of this defense, but other positions are going to have to step up. The Steelers’ defense was 24th in the league in points allowed last year, so it was a slog. They’ll have to be better this season.
The bottom line
Things are going to be different in Pittsburgh, but they’ll have every opportunity to keep the .500 streak alive. Despite the changes we’re seeing — not least of which is the renaming of Heinz Field to Acrisure Stadium — Tomlin has proven time and time again he is highly adaptable.
Trubisky, make no mistake, has some pressure on him this season. Pickett is going to be right behind him, and the Steelers want to be competing for the AFC North title, not just a .500 record. But they’ll have to take things a week at a time to get there.
The schedule is difficult, and tied for 12th based on last year’s record might not be doing it justice. The Colts and Dolphins are hardly gimmes in addition to their playoff lineup, so they’ll have to be on week in and week out.
Role players stepping up is well within Pittsburgh’s M.O., and they’re generally in the hunt at the end of the season. Tomlin and his team will have to do a lot of work to keep that the case in 2022.
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