Throughout the NFL offseason, Steelers general manager Omar Khan made a number of moves in an effort to reshape a roster that was constantly in the mix for a playoff spot but couldn’t get over the hump in recent years.
His most notable personnel changes came in the quarterback room, where Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky were replaced by Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Kyle Allen. Beyond that, Khan also added Cordarrelle Patterson as a running back/wide receiver/kick returner hybrid, a number of offensive linemen, Patrick Queen at linebacker, Donte Jackson at cornerback and DeShon Elliot at safety, among others.
That infusion of talent has boosted an always-good-but-never-great squad to the forefront of the AFC race, as the 7-2 Steelers lead the AFC North and are just two games behind the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs for the top spot in the conference.
Kansas City has ruled the AFC ever since Patrick Mahomes became the starting signal caller, appearing in six consecutive AFC Championship games and winning three Super Bowls. They’ve hardly been dominant this year, and yet their record remains unblemished thanks to a combination of Mahomes, an elite defense and probably a bit of magic of the soul-selling variety.
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