Are Steelers contenders or pretenders?

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer • November 20, 2024

Minkah Fitzpatrick (#39) free safety with the Pittsburgh Steelers gets ready to make a tackle during a game against the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 14, 2019. Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The only thing that’s on the minds of Steel City leading into Feb. 9 is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Will they be Superbowl contenders or pretenders?

Following their victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 17, there are real conversations from journalists across the country about the Steelers’ potential to represent the AFC in Superbowl LVIII.

The Steelers (8-2) head into their Nov. 20 Thursday Night Football game against division rivals the Cleveland Browns (2-8).

Their record positions them as No. 3 overall in the entire AFC, right behind the Buffalo Bills and defending back-to-back Superbowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs.

On the topic of Kansas City, betting odds currently believe that they will represent the AFC against the NFC’s Detroit Lions in a preseason rematch.

There’s certainly a rough schedule ahead for the Pittsburgh Steelers as the next couple of weeks showcase battles with the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Kansas City Chiefs.

The question on everyone’s mind regarding the No. 1 seed in the AFC North is– with arguably the best defense in the league featuring talents such as TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cam Heyward, and Patrick Queen and an offense highlighted by George Pickens, Najee Harris, and Russel Wilson– can the Steelers do what some call the impossible?

About the Contributor

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer

And that’s another Bethel Park Black Hawks win for the boys soccer team. Whether Patrick is on the soccer field or behind the keyboard, he’s always aiming to make an impact—one play and one story at a time. This year, Patrick Romito, an 11th grader, joins Scholastic Publications for the first time. When asked why he decided to sign up, Patrick said, “I took the class to get more involved in school activities.” With a clear passion for making the most of his high school experience, Patrick is eager to contribute to the class by writing articles for the Hawk Eye newspaper. He’s ready to take on whatever stories come his way, whether spotlight features, sports, or school news. Patrick is not just a writer; he’s also an accomplished athlete. With 12 years of soccer experience under his belt and as a three-year DECA member, he balances both extracurriculars and academics with ease. As someone who enjoys variety, he’s equally open to different kinds of stories, saying, “I enjoy writing in general, so whether it’s spotlights, sports, or school news-related content, it doesn’t matter to me.” Looking ahead, Patrick’s plans after high school include studying marketing and advertising, although he’s still deciding on a specific college. In the meantime, his favorite class is Law & You with Mr. Vic. He appreciates how the course prepares him for life after high school, and he enjoys Mr. Vic’s real-life stories that make each lesson engaging. Reflecting on his time in high school, Patrick recalls the excitement of attending football games as a freshman, where he formed friendships that have lasted throughout his high school years. “I really enjoyed going to the football games freshman year because I ended up making a lot of friends there, a lot of which I’m still friends with today,” he said. Outside of school, Patrick has worked as a lifeguard at Highpoint Fitness for almost two years, a job that highlights his dedication and work ethic. When he’s not working or playing soccer, he enjoys comedy movies, with Step Brothers being his top pick. And what’s his dream vacation? Patrick hopes to one day visit Italy. “My dream vacation is Italy because first, it is very beautiful there, as well as my family roots going back to there,” he shared. In just three words, Patrick describes himself as calm, caring, and hardworking — qualities that are sure to serve him well both in and out of the classroom. Keep an eye out for Patrick’s contributions to Hawk Eye this year as he dives into the world of scholastic publications! Written by: Grace Ferency, Staff Writer