Steelers' Former Linebacker Ryan Shazier Was Accurate In Predicting The Team's Miraculous Finish To The 2022 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a lot of excitement surrounding them going into the 2022 NFL season, as any team with a rookie quarterback does. However, after Kenny Pickett was listed as the third string quarterback in training camp and started the season as Mitch Trubisky's back-up, things were looking bleak. Former Steelers linebacker, Ryan Shazier, never gave up hope, even after the team started 2-6. Shazier accurately predicted Pittsburgh winning seven of their last nine games and having a winning season. 

Former Steelers Linebacker Accurately Predicted 2022 Season

During an appearance on Kay Adams' show, Up & Adams on December 7th of 2022, which was right after the Steelers had beaten the Atlanta Falcons, Shazier had discussed a bet he made with his friend two weeks prior that the Steelers, who had a record of 2-6 at the time and had just gotten destroyed by the Philadelphia Eagles, would finish the 2022 season by winning seven of their last nine games and have a positive final record. 

The Steelers were 3-1 since Shazier had made the bet. Adams asked Shazier what makes him have so much faith in his former team to finish the year strong and make a push for the playoffs. 

"The biggest thing is that Kenny [Pickett] at the beginning of the year, he didn't really have the chemistry with Diontae [Johnson]. The only real chemistry he had was with George [Pickens] because they were in the same lineup. Every week we consistently see him [Pickett] get better."

This was how Shazier was feeling about the Steelers in 2022 as they were 5-6 and on a two-game winning streak. He was definitely right, as Pickett had improved drastically throughout the season. An area he especially improved in was his ball security. Early in the year, there were two games the Steelers lost that he had three interceptions in. His improved ball security was a large reason the Steelers were able to finish 2022 on a hot-streak and win seven of their last nine games. 

As we all know, the Steelers won Shazier's bet for him, finishing the 2022 season going 9-8 and just barely missing the playoffs. Shazier made another appearance on Adams' show on Wednesday, roughly eight months after his first appearance where he made his bold prediction. The two reflected on the episode and how Shazier ended up being right. Shazier explained what gave him so much confidence in making his prediction. 

"It's a combination of believing in the guy that coached you, and also understanding just how the team is built, how the franchise is built. And believing in Kenny Pickett, and I believe in Kenny. I felt real confident about it." 

Shazier believed in Pickett when the Steelers were at their worst in 2022, and now Pickett and the Steelers have almost everyone believing in them. The offense and team as a whole has looked great so far in the 2023 preseason, and reports were nothing but positive coming out of training camp. Pickett seems as though he is near guaranteed to take a leap forward, especially after dazzling performances against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills in the first two weeks of the preseason. 

In an attempt to get Shazier to keep his on-point predictions rolling, Adams asked him how he thinks the team will do in 2023. Shazier said he thinks the team will be in the range of 10 to 12 wins. This is very reasonable and I completely agree with him, I just hope the Steelers are closer to the 12 wins. In a loaded AFC, 10 wins will be cutting it close when it comes to securing a spot in the postseason. Let's hope Shazier's prediction is correct yet again!