The Pittsburgh Steelers ply their trade in one of the toughest division in the National Football League, the AFC North. If they manage to win that division, holding off the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Cleveland Browns, they have as good a chance as any team in the AFC to go all the way to the Super Bowl.
As they prepare for their Week 1 opener against the Washington Redskins, the Steelers will want to start off on the right foot and even though they are away from home, the Steelers could have a big afternoon against a seemingly fragile Washington team.
Big Ben and the offense could have another big season
For years the Steelers have been synonymous with defense but recently, it's been the high-flying offense of the Black and Gold that has made headlines. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is one of the league's top quarterbacks and the Steelers' front office have provided him with the necessary weapons to put up big numbers if he chooses to. Roethlisberger may not have too many years left in him to compete at the highest level but if he can stay healthy, Pittsburgh's chances of reaching another Super Bowl will remain high.
Right alongside Roethlisberger as one of the most valuable members of the Steelers is wide receiver, Antonio Brown. They are not many much better in the league than Brown and he consistently puts up 100+ receiving yards in multiple games, year in and year out. He also formed a good partnership with Roethlisberger and the two seem to be able to make completions on a regular basis without trying too hard. If Brown can produce a season like he had last year, 136 catches and 1,834 receiving yards, Pittsburgh will make the playoffs again this year. Brown is joined in the receiving core by Marcus Wheaton, Sammy Coates, and Darius Heyward-Bey, who given the opportunity, can make plays. Another season fo working with Roethlisberger under their belts should improve their numbers this season as well. The Steelers can also look forward to the return of Martavis Bryant, another good young receiver, who is unavailable due to suspension.
The Steelers running game has also been explosive. Although he will not start the season due to suspension, Le'Veon Bell is set to become an elite running back in the league. His explosiveness and eye for a gap make him very difficult to defend against and he is also useful in the passing game as he has good hands and can make the catches required of him. Until Bell returns, the majority of the running packages will fall to DeAngelo Williams. After proving many critics wrong last season. Williams will want to show that age has not slowed him down yet and he can still be the main running back on any team. Bell's suspension will allow Williams the opportunity to shine and once Bell returns, the Steelers will have a pretty effective one-two tandem at running back.
The Steel curtain may be making a comeback
Part of the reason why the Steelers could not make it all the way to the Super Bowl over the last few season has been due to the deterioration of their defense. They seemingly had lost their toughness and their ability to shut down any team whether it's their run game or if a team decides to throw past them. The Steelers secondary has also been a big cause for concern for many Steelers fans and the front office has made moves this offseason to address those issues.
Led by former Steeler Joey Porter, the Steelers linebackers are primed to make an impression this year. Bud Dupree, who the Steelers had high hopes for, picked up an injury during the preseason and has been placed on injured reserve. This means that the majority of the pass rushing plays will fall to Ryan Shazier. Shazier has been evolving as a linebacker and could be the next great linebacker in the league if he manages to keep progressing. His speed and athleticism make it easier for the Steelers to place him in the run game or in passing situations to make big plays, and make them he does.
The Steelers front seven will most likely be led by Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward. These two defensive ends had a good season last year and will now be expected to lead the defensive as the season progresses. Heyward especially has been growing with each season and could have a breakout season this year that could lead the Steelers to another deep playoff run.
Offseason moves
As previously noted, the Steelers looked to improve their defense, in particular, their secondary. Rookie corner back Artie Burns and safety Sean Davis were brought in to improve that area of the field and hopefully, prevent big plays from happening against the Steelers. These two are young but they have tremendous potential and if coached right, could help the Steelers fortify their defense. Another rookie to keep an eye out for is defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, Hargrave has been impressive in preseason and if he continues to impress during training camp, expect to see him get a lot of plays this season as well.
The offensive line did not see many changes but one big plus for the Steelers will be a healthy Maurkice Pouncey. Before injuries plagued him, Pouncey was regarded as one of, if not the best, center in the league and his leadership was a big reason why Roethlisberger was able to stay relatively safe behind the offensive line during the last run the Pittsburgh Steelers made to the Super Bowl. Having him back will almost be like having a new signing and the offensive line will be the better for it. The Steelers front office also brought in tight end Ladarius Green from the San Diego Chargers to give Roethlisberger a big target to aim for over the middle, which he has not had since the retirement of Heath Miller. Unfortunately for Green, he also picked up an injury and may not be available for the Steelers until Week 7.
Season prediction
Taking a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers schedule should please their fans. Apart from their division rivalry games, the Steelers have maybe two really difficult teams in the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots later on in the season on their schedule. A win over both those teams could put the Steelers in contention to win the AFC outright but they will need to stay healthy, especially on the offensive line if they want to make another push for that elusive seventh Super Bowl win. Couple that with their high-powered offense and the sky's the limit for the Steelers and if their rookies turn out exactly the way head coach Mike Tomlin thinks they can, one could not bet against the Steelers this season. All things considered, the Steelers could finish the regular season with a 12-4 record which should be enough for a playoff spot in the AFC.