I Hate to Say It, I Really Do...but Someone Has to

I have seen alot of predicitons for the Steelers and their projected success this season, but there is one that I have not seen predicted so far, so I'm gonna throw it out there....

16-0?

Yes...16-0.

I know, I know....it just doesn't happen, but why not?

There are always going to be assumptions that go into any prediction for an NFL teams success, and here are the three I am making:

1. Limited significant injuries

2. SOME improvement from the O-Line

3. One of the teams on their schedule doen't wake up with that special kind of magic that takes a loser into the playoffs by playing WAY beyond what could reasonably be expected of them

I say this knowing full well there are 16 games on the schedule that they could lose... but really only three that should even be close. 

The Steelers had major injury issues last season, played one of the toughest schedules I've ever seen, and still walked/limped away 12-4.

First let's look at the Steelers:

This team is better than the one that walked onto the field last year. 

Special teams will continue to improve. 

After a quantum leap forward last year, I believe that coach Tomlin's commitment to this phase of the game will continue to show.

The return of Sepulveda should help immensely (it certainly can't be any worse), and I think that a couple of rookies will make a name for themselves here.

Defense is very solid.

McFadden is a tough loss.  The guy can flat out play, no doubt about it.  Gay should prove to be a capable replacement, and as long as he does his job the D will roll along just as tough as ever. 

LeBeau is certainly one of if not THE best defensive coordinator in the game, and as long as everyone does their job...Defense will not cost this team games. 

Polamalu found a way to stay healthy throughout the season last year, and it showed.  If he does it again, he will continue to be a major factor.

This is arguably the best set of LBs in the league.  Farrior is a great field general, Harrison is terrifying, Woodley is a beast, and Timmons earned a staters spot with his performance at the end of last season. 

You can X and O all you want, but these guys are fast, strong, smart, and they are coming as hard as they can on each and every play.  My only real concern on this side of the ball is the loss of Foote. 

Yes, Timmons appears to be ready, and he is definitely faster, but Foote is a guy who knows this system and has performed admirably for years.

Having him on the roster would be a huge bonus even if just for depth in case of injury  (having a fresh pair of reliable legs to put in during some of those slugfest Ravens games would be nice too)

Offense will be better, and maybe by a large margin.

Big Ben is a force to be reckoned with.  All this guy does is win games.  It may not be pretty, but it goes in the W column, and that is all he cares about.  It is also all that really counts.

He will have better protection this year (this also couldn't be much worse). With a season to develop the elusive "cohesion" that an O-line needs this unit should show a dramatic improvement. 

This line had two major issues last year.  First was penalties.  I don't know exactly how many times a flag for motion, illegal formation, or some other dumb thing turned a 3rd and 3or less into a passing only situation.

Second was injuries to Parker and Mendenhall.  This really had opposing D coordinators licking their chops.  The O-line was under a ridiculous amount of pressure because teams did not really respect the Steelers ground game.

I believe we will see the fullback position get back to being more prominently featured, and better production on the ground.  Parker is still one of the most underrated backs in the game.

He is a reliable and sometimes spectacular producer running inside and out when he is 100 percent. If Mendenhall fulfills any of the promise he showed before getting hurt last year, this will be a formidable backfield.

The word I have seen most in reference to the Steelers receiving corps as solid.  Really? 2 Super Bowl MVPs is "solid"?... I should hope so. 

Hines Ward is always a factor one way or another because he is such a fierce competitor. Holmes has developed into a legitimate top rank pass catcher.

Nate Washington produced some key plays last year, and now he is gone. But don't forget, up until last season, Nate looked like he was playing with boxing gloves on....he dropped everything. 

Pittsburgh has another guy like that in Sweed, if he can get past his problems catching the ball, he can take over Nate's role pretty easily.

There is one other factor I am looking for this year...the re-emergence of Heath Miller.  Even marginal improvement form the O-line will free him up to catch more passes, and this guy is a serious threat when he is able to come loose and get the ball in his hands.

This unit should be able to average something close to 30 points per game with the schedule they have this season.

This years schedule is quite a bit softer than last.  That being said, I do truly believe in the "any given Sunday" thing, but I think Tomlin has an approach to his job that really does take one game at a time, and keeps his team engaged in every game they play.

Here is how I see it:

Week 1

Home vs. Titans

One of the three games to worry about!

This is one of those teams that can win any game they play.  Great ground game, real good Defense.  No Haynesworth, but then again he didn't play in the whuppin the Steelers took in TN last year.

Obviously, if they lose this one, the whole 16-0 thing is shot, but I believe Tomlin will have this team ready to play, and I know they will try to use some of last season's terrible towel antics to get a chip on their shoulder and start the season with a W.

Week 2

Away vs. Bears

This team is just OK. Even if a new QB rallies the troops, I do not think there is enough there to be a real threat to this D.  Not an easy one, but a Win.

Week 3

Away vs. Bengals

All they have to do is remember to show up ready to play...Whuppin!

Week 4

Home vs. Chargers

Norv Turner is not a good head coach.  This team has performed worse in each of the years he has been at the helm, and the trend will continue. 

Tomlinson and Gates are not the threats they used to be, and that leaves the Chargers relatively easy to manage.

Week 5

Away vs. Lions

Please...It's the Lions.  The Fords should lose their franchise rights for the way they have let their fans suffer for so long.  It is hard to remember a single good move they have made.

Week 6

Home vs. Browns

I reluctantly admit the Brownies are getting better... but they are not there yet, probably not even close.

Week 7

Home vs. Vikings

Vikings D edged out Pittsburgh last season for No. 1 in rush D. But I think that is only because they were so easy to throw on that teams abandoned the ground game.

Containing Peterson is no small feat, but it is possible, and LeBeau and his squad will relish the chance to show the Vikings great rush defense what a complete defense can do.

This one will be a serious beating.  Jackson cannot play well enough to keep Pit's D honest and he will turn it over.

Week 8

BYE

Week 9

Away vs. Broncos

This team is barely competitive in their own division (which is terrible) and should not beat any good team this year.

Week 10

Home vs. Bengals

See Week 3

Week 11

Away vs. Chiefs

This was one of the worst teams in the league last year.  I like their off season moves, but Pioli isn't going to put a patch on this team, he is going to try to fix it for real.  That doesn't happen in one season.  Chefs get drummed.

Week 12

Away vs. Ravens

Game 2 of the three they need to worry about.  Flacco is for real, this is a team that would be getting better, but only on one side of the ball.  The offense could be just a promising as it was last year, but this defense is only another year older.

Even though it is packed with exceptional players, I have to wonder how long Ray Lewis and Co. can continue to perform at a high level.  Bart Scott was a serious loss.

There is enough venom in this rivalry already, and the Steelers know that the two games with B-more will likely determine the Div champs, so I expect this to be a win...but a tough one.

Week 13

Home vs. Raiders

This is a welcome visitor after the always violent and physical Ravens game

Al Davis is nuts!!! This team has pinned it's hopes to a young QB and a very questionable draft pick WR.  even if they both live up to Crazy Al's expectations...neither of them plays defense.  Serious beatdown.

Week 14

Away vs. Browns

This could actually be a sneaky let-down type game after a tough one at Baltimore, and the cupcake Raiders....except it's the Browns... it might get a little sloppy, bu it is another W.

Week 15

Home vs. Packers

This is a team that thought it was going to be a serious contender last year...oops!  They will be better this year, but not that much.  The score in this one may end up being closer than the game really is.

Week 16

Home vs Ravens

Third to worry about

This is it!   Div Championship will probably be decided today (they have to move this game to prime time)  I don't think the Ravens get one at home...and I definitely don't think it happens in the Burgh.

I am guessing that this D will be wearing down a little late in the season, and just will not have the teeth to put Pit down.

Week 17

Away vs. Dolphins

OOOOOOH BOY!!!! if it comes to this, the media will have a field day. Miami is a team that seriously overperformed last season. Jason Taylor signed for $1M, and probably isn't worth that much. 

Pennington does not like to get hit, he will get hit. The end.  This game won't be close.

So, there it is. Seems pretty simple when you look at it.  Now I know no team is supposed to or even likely to go undefeated, but this team has a real chance.

From the pessimistic POV, I would say Pittsburgh goes 13-3,  Maaaaaaaybe they find a way to fall asleep for one more game to go 12-4. but anything less would be a serious disappointment.