Ben Roethlisberger's Suspension: How Will the Steelers Win?

Apparently, they are really going DEEP into the depth chart for Ben's suspension replacement. I think Keyaran Fox should stick to being a linebacker!

I haven't seen any picks yet, so I thought I might as well go for it!

Not much of an introduction for you guys, but I received my first offer to be on someone's radio show! Other than that, I really have nothing to say.

Go to the next slide.

Seriously? You wanted to look again! I feel so special!

OK. Enjoy the article.

9/12 - Home vs. Atlanta Falcons

Well, the first slide must be the first game played, right?

Steelers on Offense:

Well, since this will be the first game out of the pre-season, the Steelers will have set up their depth charts. I predict Emmanuel Sanders in Mike Wallace's former third wide receiver and slot positions.

With Hines Ward as the possession receiver and two speedsters with at least decent hands, I think the receivers will do their part to give Dennis Dixon or Byron Leftwich (Dixon should start, in my opinion) a nice edge over the weak Falcons' secondary.

The Falcons had an average run defense last year from what statistics would tell, and they allowed a higher yards-per-carry average than they earned. So I suspect the one-two punch of Rashard Mendenhall and Jonathon Dwyer will handle them with at least a four YPC.

Steelers on Defense:

While the Falcons may have one of the best running backs in the NFL, Mr. Turner will be coming off of some serious injuries. Another thing working against him would be the fact he is playing against the number one rush defense in the NFL for the past few years. I don't expect much from him.

Everyone has been raving about Matt Ryan. Well...I am not too impressed. I think Joe Flacco is the better quarterback from the draft, and Ryan is rather overrated for me. People give him too much credit, even though he has a great line and a great running back to help him out.

While the Steelers' secondary isn't amazing, Bryant McFadden coming back and Troy Polamalu returning from his injury woes should help the Steelers out a lot.

I suspect the Steelers take this game FAIRLY easily.

Steelers 24-17

Steelers 362 yards, 140 passing, 222 rushing
Falcons 266 yards, 190 passing, 76 rushing

Player of the game: Rashard Mendenhall - 153 yards rushing and two touchdowns

9/19- Away vs. Tennessee Titans

Yes, it is a match-up between the Steelers and the Chris-Johnson's. I think it will be...rush heavy to say the least.

Steelers on Offense:

The Titans are fairly well known for their rush defense, but last year they were sort of middle of the pack. They allowed more than 100 yards per game, but didn't allow too many touchdowns with just 16.

That is where the Titans' positives end. Their pass defense, despite some interceptions, was pretty pathetic to me.

Despite having 20 interceptions, the only legitimate threat was Cortland Finnegan. Keith Bulluck was a great all-around player, but even if he were still with the team, he is aging and still would have had to hit a wall at some point.

The Titans had a higher yards-per-reception average, but their touchdown ratio compared to their opponents was...well...abysmal to say the least. 16-to-31 is rather sad in my opinion.

Bulluck was the anchor to their team, in my opinion, and it was a bad move letting him go.

I say the Steelers handle the defense fairly well for the second straight week.

Steelers on defense:

This is why there is a slide right there. Who wins? The number one rushing defense, or the second best running back and best man in the league for getting yards. Who wins?

I say the defense. CJ will get his stats, much like LeBron James always gets his, but his team will not be able to support him. He will play fairly well, but Polamalu will really contribute to shutting him down.

As for the pass defense. Now that the circle of life has been restored with the return of Polamalo and McFadden, I don't see any big passing plays being allowed by many teams. Vince Young has made some strides, but I just do not see this working out well for him.

I pick the Steelers to start 2-0 so far, and while I may seem like a homer, I truly believe the Steelers are a better team than these last two.

Steelers 31-14

Steelers offense: 384 yards, 275 passing, and 109 rushing
Titans offense: 245 yards, 108 passing, and 145 rushing

Despite the Titans running for big yards, their passing was abysmal. I think that CJ will get about 80 yards, and Young will run for a long-yardage touchdown.

Dixon will probably have his break-out day, and I think he wins game MVP

Player of the game: Dixon 275 yards passing and three touchdowns, along with 22 yards rushing and a touchdown.

9/26- Away vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers are...well...the Buccaneers.

Steelers on Offense:

Seriously, this may be the easiest slide on here. Everyone knows who I'll pick, but I might as well get into it!

The Buccaneers were awful in every way on both sides of the ball last year. The closest thing to success was them having 19 interceptions and only allowing 200 yards passing per game.

Other than that, they were terrible. The rush defense was among the worst in the league, and Raheem Morris has been dubbed by some as "the worst coach ever."

I think drafting Gerald McCoy was a great move and Barrett Ruud is an amazing linebacker, but I don't think anyone else is good enough to stop the Steelers.

Steelers on defense:

Here's a mismatch if I ever saw one. The Steelers have one of the top defenses, and the Bucs have one of the worst offenses. I do believe that favors the Steelers heavily.

Josh Freeman, second-year man out of Kansas State, makes far too many mistakes and tries to force too many balls with that cannon arm of his.

Derrick Ward turned out to be a bad move for the team when they signed him to a big money free agent contract. He absolutely didn't earn it with only around 300 yards and a couple of touchdowns.

The receiving corps is rather pathetic and not all too impressive to me at all. Antonio Bryant's gone, and I don't really see any good receivers besides Kellen Winslow; he's a tight end.

I see the Steelers winning in dominating fashion.

Steelers 38 - 9

Steelers offense: 376 yards, 162 passing, 214 rushing
Bucs offense: 185 yards, 143 passing, 42 rushing

Despite a dominating performance by Mendenhall - 147 yards and two more touchdowns - I must give the game ball to Polamalu for making his comeback against the Buccaneers with two picks and a forced fumble.

Player of the Game: Polamalu - seven tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions

10/03- Home vs. Baltimore Ravens

This is the one match-up that is most difficult for me to write.

Steelers on Offense:

Well, considering it is an inexperienced quarterback at the helm of a fairly short-handed offense, I think they have done very well so far. It is here where he began last year, that he must end his current journey.

He may have led them to a 3-0 start, but it will not continue here. Yes he played well, but he had trouble as well. The thing is...he will have his toughest game yet against this year's Ravens squad. They are improved on both sides of the ball and at most positions. They picked up plenty of terrifying defensive players in the draft as well.

Just a quick note, I think Terrence Cody is super overrated, and just a big fat blob of bust that will show as soon as he gets his paycheck.

Back to the point. I don't expect much at all from the Steelers in this game. I think the Steelers' offense can only be useful with Ben at the helm.

Mendenhall will run into a massive line, and I think he will either be sort of frightened to face Ray Lewis again after that rookie season-ending injury, or he will be the hard-runner I have come to enjoy. I am sort of in the middle on this and expect less than four YPC in this game.

I say the Steelers lose this battle without Big Ben. I suspect different later in the season though...

Steelers on Defense:

I have been one of many football fans who are somewhat frightened by the Ravens' off-season acquisitions. They picked up a multitude of players, including such useful receivers as Donte Stallworth and of course Anquan Boldin. They made great strides, but I honestly think that the Steelers' secondary will be able to cause some problems with their Super Bowl-winning set of defensive backs.

McFadden has returned and actually signed a long-term deal with the team.

Ike Taylor will be able to use his top five man coverage skills to shut down almost any of the Ravens receivers. As long as he doesn't need to catch the ball, he is a top five corner in the NFL. Yes I know that's important, but so is stopping receivers completely.

William Gay, while hated deeply, now is back in his original and destined spot of nickel back. That should improve his usefulness EXPONENTIALLY. That is where he belongs, and while sad for the veteran, he is a better player than DeShea Townsend at this stage in his career.

I say Ray Rice does okay averaging at max 4.1 YPC. The Steelers upgraded their defense at almost every position throughout the off-season, and I think that will work in their favor in this game.

I say that this match-up is a toss up. It really comes down to whoever can get in the end zone as with every other game and team, but I do not see a high score at all.

If Mendenhall plays well and Dixon doesn't throw an interception, Steelers 17-14.

If Ray Rice plays well and Flacco manages to find his receivers, Ravens 17-14.

This game could go either way and that is why it has two game predictions and two players of the game.

Players of the game

Steelers win: McFadden three - tackles, one interception touchdown, one fumble recovery.

Ravens win: Boldin - six catches, 102 yards, one game-winning touchdown

Bye Week

Roethlisberger's return should show that he is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

I have covered every game he will miss, but to find the games he WON'T...well, that's up to you guys, isn't it?

Thank you for reading my article. I hope you enjoyed it. I sincerely appreciate all of the kindness you guys have shown me. Remember...I still need something to end my article with, so send me a suggestion!

Stay classy San Diego.