Handicapping the AFC from a Steelers' Perspective

(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

However, Oakland was 31st in the NFL against the rush in 2008 and didn’t make any significant upgrades on defense. An improvement from 5-11 is likely, especially without the coaching chaos that ruined the Raiders’ 2008 season.

If second-round pick Michael Mitchell and oft-injured Tyvon Branch have monster seasons at safety, the Raiders could contend for a division championship, but a conference title seems out of reach.

Houston is different. First-round draft choice Brian Cushing promises to be a star at middle linebacker. Dunta Robinson is a shutdown corner who has received criticism for missing some offseason workouts, butPlaxico Burress once did that and the Steelers went 15-1.

The Raiders hope to improve defensively; the Texans, 8-8 last season, most assuredly will.

And while the Bengals seemed to fall back to their laughingstock ways last season, they were with Carson Palmer for only four games. Seventeen players finished on injured reserve.

Despite a 4-11-1 record, the Bengals had the sixth best defense in the AFC in 2008—tops among teams with losing records. The signings of strong safety Roy Williams and defensive tackle Tank Johnson, along with the arrival of linebacker Rey Maualuga, will only make it better.

Less than three years ago, Sports Illustrated called the Steelers-Bengals rivalry the nastiest in the NFL. The Bengals lack the running game to make the playoffs, but they might restore the “nasty” in the rivalry.

Moving to the playoff teams of a year ago, while the Steelers did not suffer any key losses, the Tennessee Titans lost Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to free agency and the Indianapolis Colts let Marvin Harrison go. It’s hard to fathom either of these teams improving in 2009 as a result.

In trying to match these teams up against the Steelers for AFC supremacy, while both teams have better offensive lines than Pittsburgh, they have few other advantages.

For instance, even if one was to say Peyton Manning was a better quarterback than Ben Roethlisberger, the Colts lack the receiving talent the Steelers have with Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, and Heath Miller, and it seems to be a stretch to say running back Donald Brown will become a more productive player in his rookie season than Willie Parker will.

And will new head coach Jim Caldwell be a George Seifert or a Ray Handley?

The Titans’ passing attack is unspectacular, to the point that Nate Washington, the Steelers’ third receiver in 2008, may start for the Titans this year. One wonders if running back Chris Johnson will be able to carry the load for a second straight season.

Defensively, the Steelers had the top defense in the NFL last season and suffered no key losses. Unless Pittsburgh’s defensive players get old in a hurry or suffer mass injuries, it would seem this would be a huge advantage for the Steelers over the Titans and Colts.

Bottom line, look for the Colts and Titans to be looking over their shoulder at the improving Texans more than winning one of the two byes in the AFC playoffs.

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