6 NFL teams that could make 2019 playoffs after missing last year

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

No team had more drama surrounding them in 2018 than the Pittsburgh Steelers did. And it wasn’t as if this drama was coming from players who weren’t vital to their success. Instead, it eas the most prominent members of their team as running back Le’Veon Bell, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wideout Antonio Brown were all making negative headlines.

Bell was the first to get the news lines going as he was in the midst of a holdout. Asking for more security, Bell and the Steelers got into a spat that spilled over into the media and included Bell claiming that the team and media tried to make him out to be the bad guy.

Big Ben also had his share of headlines as he ripped the team for drafting a quarterback two seasons in a row — conveniently forgetting that they did this due to him openly contemplating retirement in 2017. Apparently, he believes the team preparing for life after him is disrespectful.

From there, he ripped on his teammates openly and said he earned that right because he’s a veteran. While that’s true, he should have kept his concerns in house rather than expressing them in the media — but again, the coaching staff and front office didn’t even blink an eye at his outburst.

This led to Antonio Brown finally breaking as the All-Pro wideout lost his cool with Roethlisberger and forced his way out of town. So now he and Bell are gone and remaining is Big Ben. Even with the two stars gone, Pittsburgh could improve this season with less drama. If so, they could be in line to reclaim the AFC North — or at the very least, be fighting for a Wild Card berth.