Pittsburgh Steelers: 16-Game Prediction

The regular season is finally here and the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.

The Steelers are one of the few teams in the NFL where you can make an argument that every week they could win the game.

Obviously there has only been one 16-0 team and only one undefeated team in NFL history so here is how I see the Steelers' season ending up.

Week 1

Vs. Denver Broncos

Although the defense will give up a few points without Ryan Clark in the secondary, Peyton Manning will throw at least one interception.

Elvis Dumervil puts consistent pressure on Ben Roethlisberger during the game and Ben doesn’t end up with a big passing total.

The Steelers' rushing attack has a solid day with both Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer scoring a touchdown and the Steelers get the win.

Win 27-21

Week 2

Vs. New York Jets

The Steelers will probably get off to a rough start in this game only because they tend to play down to their competition.

LaMarr Woodley and the Steelers pass-rush live in the Jets’ backfield and the defense forces four turnovers in total.

The score only ends up as close as it is because the Steelers decide to run the ball and drain the clock for most of the second half.

Win 21-7

Week 3

Vs. Oakland Raiders

The offense finally gets going against the Raiders and Ben throws touchdowns to Mike Wallace, Heath Miller and Jerricho Cotchery.

Carson Palmer gets reacquainted with the Steelers defense and throws two interceptions to Troy Polamalu and Cortez Allen.

This game is over in the first half and the Steelers’ second team defense gives up the only touchdowns scored by the Raiders in the game.

Win 31-17

Week 4

BYE

The Steelers have an early bye week in 2012 and they go into it undefeated with a record of 3-0.

Unfortunately the Steelers will probably watch the Ravens and Bengals win as they play the Browns and Jaguars respectively.

All in all, this is the worst week of the regular season in my opinion because I don’t get to watch the Steelers.

Week 5

Vs. Philadelphia Eagles

I know the Steelers haven’t lost a game following their bye week since 2007 against the Denver Broncos but I just have a feeling about this one.

It will be a shootout early in the game and Ben Roethlisberger brings the Steelers back to tie it at 24 in the fourth quarter.

The defense then ensues to give up one of their patented late game drives and they lose a game that they really shouldn’t.

Loss 31-24

Week 6

Vs. Tennessee Titans

After losing a tough game to the Eagles in week five, the Steelers bounce back and trounce the Tennessee Titans.

The defense starts the game off with a pick-six by Ryan Clark and LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison record two sacks each.

It is pretty much an entire team effort in this game with Ben throwing two touchdowns and Redman running for two as well.

Win 34-10

Week 7

Vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Ben throws his own pick-six in the game to former Cowboy Terrence Newman and the offense doesn’t get going until the second half.

It is a sloppy game for the Steelers all around and they have to battle back from a 10-point deficit.

In the end, Ben, with help from a two TD performance from Antonio Brown, leads the team back for the Steelers' fifth-straight win against the Bengals.  

Win 28-24

Week 8

Vs. Washington Redskins

Robert Griffin III comes to Pittsburgh and finds out that Heinz Field is not a fun place to be an opposing quarterback.

The Steelers rack up eight sacks in the game and pick off the rookie Redskins QB four times with Troy Polamalu getting two for himself.

Ben has a quiet day while the Steelers’ rushing attack explodes for over 300 yards in a blowout win over the Redskins.

Win 31-7

Week 9

Vs. New York Giants

After scoring at least 21 points in every game so far this season, the offense comes to a screeching halt against the Giants.

Ben takes a beating from Jason Pierre-Paul and the rest of the Giants’ defensive line and the entire offense struggles.

The Steelers’ defense carries the team, however, and they pick off Eli Manning to end a close game.

Win 13-10

Week 10

Vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Steelers have struggled against the Chiefs the last two times they have played and I think the offensive struggles will continue in this game.

The lone touchdown of the game comes on a screen pass from Ben to Chris Rainey who takes it 50 yards to the house.

For reasons I still do not know, the Steelers play a terrible game against the Chiefs and yet still end up with the win.

Win 10-9

Week 11

Vs. Baltimore Ravens

I would love it if the Steelers turned around and swept the Ravens, after last season. However, their string of bad offensive games finally catches up with them here.

The offense doesn’t even turn the ball over but they just look bad in general and can only muster two touchdowns.

A decent defensive game by the Steelers is masked by a terrible offensive one and the Steelers lose their second game of the season.

Loss 27-14

Week 12

Vs. Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh travels to Cleveland at the perfect time and they put their offensive struggles behind them with 28 points.

The defense does its part as well by shutting the Browns out and does not even allow them into the red zone the entire game.

This will be the fifth-straight loss to the Steelers for the Browns and it serves as a tune-up for the rematch against the Ravens in week 13.

Win 28-0

Week 13

Vs. Baltimore Ravens

Ben shows why he is the best QB in the league with three touchdowns and a great passing performance against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Joe Flacco throws an interception early and the defense forces a key fumble in the fourth quarter to shut the door on the Ravens.

The Steelers finally snap a three-game losing streak to the Ravens and take control of the AFC North with a win.

Win 21-14

Week 14

Vs. San Diego Chargers

Ben Roethlisberger took down fellow 2004 first-round QB Eli Manning earlier in the season and he will take care of Phillip Rivers as well.

The Chargers are normally better in the second half of the season; however, they run into a roadblock here against the Steelers.

Rivers puts up some decent numbers, but the game is never really as close as the score indicates. The Steelers' defense has an off-day.

Win 27-24

Week 15

Vs. Dallas Cowboys

I really think there is a good chance that this could be a preview of the Super Bowl, and the Steelers will take the regular season matchup.

Ben fumbles and throws an interception but throws a touchdown a piece to Antonio Brown and Chris Rainey to pull ahead.

An improved Cowboys defense holds the Steelers' offense down under 20 points.  Pittsburgh still holds on to the victory.

Win 17-14

Week 16

Vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have not beaten the Steelers since 2009, when they swept them. They won’t win against them this year either.

Much like in 2011, the first game between these two teams was closer and the second is going to be a little farther apart.

Jonathan Dwyer has a huge day against the Bengals and the second team defense gets some more reps in the second half of the game.

Win 31-17

Week 17

Vs. Cleveland Browns

There really is no other team I would rather close the season against, because either the Steelers get a win to help their standing or they get a chance to rest some players.

In this case I think Ben and the starters will play about a quarter-and-a-half depending on what was going on in the rest of the league.

Starters or not, the Steelers still dominate the Browns even though they do get across the goal line for a touchdown this time.

Win 21-7

In Conclusion

Regular Season Record: 14-2

The Pittsburgh Steelers finish off another great season and have clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Most are predicting a season with 10 or 11 wins, at best, but I really think this could turn into a special year for the team.

With the improved offensive line, great weapons and an improved defense that finished  No. 1 last season, the 2012 Steelers are going all the way for their seventh Lombardi Trophy.