08 Steelers, 09 Steelers, The Same Team, Or Not Even Close?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are now 6-3, having lost to the Cincinnatti Bengals 18-12, in a game where there was not an offensive touchdown for either team. The Steelers' Polomalu suffered a possibly minor re-injuring of his knee and left the game early with a ruling of questionable, but was quickly denied for the rest of the game.

The Steelers, strangely enough, are in the exact same position as they were in week ten of last season. They lost that week to the Indianappolis Colts 24-20 in Pittsburgh. However, they went on to win five games in a row, advance to the playoffs, and eventually win their sixth Super Bowl.

History could very well repeat itself if the Pittsburgh Steelers rally together and once again do the impossible, and win their seventh Super Bowl. Our next five games are relatively easy:

@ Kansas City Chiefs - This should be an easy win game for the Steelers, and will advance us to 7-3.

@ Baltimore Ravens - This game will be, as every other Ravens-Steelers matchup is, epic. We will really see how good each team is, but I believe that the Steelers have the edge here and will win comfortably. We do have a better record playing the Ravens in Baltimore, anyway.

Oakland Raiders- I can not really make a case for the Raiders here. There is no way they will come to Pittsburgh and win. Shut out of the season for the Steelers.This will advance us to 9-3.

@ Cleveland Browns- This is a game where I might even rest Ben some. There is no need for our starters to be in for a game that is basically already decided. Steelers advance to 10-3.

Green Bay Packers- This is a tougher game for the second half of our season, but I believe the Steelers will win this comfortably, most likely by double digits.

Baltimore Ravens- This is a game where the crowd plays a huge role. Last year Raven voodoo dolls were visible in the stands, and many avid Steelers fans hung Raven birds. (Not real, of course) But like the saying goes, "Not in our house!"

@ Miami Dolphins-This is not easy like playing the Chiefs or Browns, but it is easy enough to put the game away a little early, and preserve a win. Steelers finnish the season 13-3.

Even though I have predicted the Steelers to finnish 13-3, that is only good enough for a wild card, unless the Bengals finnish 10-6. This is highly doubtful, due to their fairly easy schedule for the remainder of the season.

Only one other team has won the Super Bowl as a wild card, and that was the 2006 Steelers. We say we are better than last season, but I see many things to work on. Only time will tell if we are matched or even better than last season's Steelers.