The words sounded strange coming from DeShon Elliott, even though they were true.
Standing in the Pittsburgh locker room after a close win against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday that pushed the Steelers to 8-2 and gave them a little cushion at the top of the AFC North, Elliott spoke a familiar cliche that, while not original, fit the situation perfectly.
“No one expected us to be here right now,” Elliott said.
Three months ago, the Steelers were an unknown after making big changes in the offseason. They had revamped their quarterback room and brought in an offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, who had struggled as a head coach in Atlanta for three years.
Pittsburgh started the season as a 50-1 long shot to make it to the Super Bowl. Even their AFC North rivals, including Cleveland, had better odds.
But now, with Thanksgiving around the corner, the narrative has changed. The Steelers are proving to be a legitimate contender, fueled by a strong roster that makes an impact on all sides of the ball each week.
For instance, 44 of the 45 players on the field at Sunday’s game against the Ravens saw action, showing how every part of the team contributes.
Backup quarterback Justin Fields, who lost his starting job a month ago to Russell Wilson, helped close out the game in the final two minutes.
Punter Corliss Waitman, who’s revitalizing his career, played a key role in flipping the field multiple times.
Tight end Darnell Washington, now weighing over 300 pounds, made big plays to help move the ball down the field.
Rookie offensive linemen Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick added physicality and intensity to the Steelers’ rivalry with the Ravens, getting into it with the opposing players whenever they could.
“Most fun I’ve had on the field in a while,” said Frazier.
Despite their challenges — like winning games without scoring a touchdown, which has happened twice this season — the Steelers are starting to be seen as real Super Bowl contenders.
When asked what another strong defensive performance against Lamar Jackson meant for his team, star linebacker T.J. Watt didn’t hesitate. “We have a lot of players,” Watt said. “On paper and off paper.”
Nearby, Cam Heyward listed off some of those players before reflecting the growing confidence in the locker room.
“I think we have a complementary team,” Heyward said. “You know, special teams, defense, offense, no matter the situation. We have guys and playmakers all around that can step up in those moments … And I love that from our group.”
