The way the Pittsburgh Steelers closed the 2022 season, including a 7-2 stretch in the second half, has many within the fanbase and in the media feeling optimistic about the franchise’s chances at competing in 2023.
Though things were ugly in the first half as the Steelers slogged their way to a 2-6 record entering the Week 9 bye, especially after star outside linebacker T.J. Watt went down with a pectoral injury in Week 1 that caused him to miss the next seven games, Pittsburgh bounced back in a strong way in the second half of the season, playing solid football to finish 9-8.