5 Bold Predictions for Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 1 Matchup

The Pittsburgh Steelers open the 2015 NFL season on Thursday night by taking on the New England Patriots, the 2014 Super Bowl champions.

Storylines abound: Tom Brady will be under center for New England now that his four-game suspension has been overturned, but the Steelers will be without receiver Martavis Bryant, running back Le'Veon Bell and center Maurkice Pouncey, with the former two suspended and the latter injured. Pittsburgh will also be making its regular-season debut of a new-look defense, helmed by coordinator Keith Butler that will feature a revamped secondary.

There isn't a lack of intrigue when it comes to this opener. With that in mind, let's get bold and make some predictions about the Steelers' Week 1 contest.

Steelers Defense Gets Gronk'd

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It's no secret that the Steelers defense has been struggling this summer, partially because of the switch to a Cover 2 system under the aegis of head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Keith Butler. But the fact is, no matter the system or how well the Steelers defenders run it, there may just be no stopping New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

In three meetings between the Patriots and the Steelers with Gronkowski on the field, the tight end has racked up 309 yards and four touchdowns. He's caught 21 of 24 passes thrown his way and averaged 103 yards per game, the fourth-highest per-game average of his career.

Whether it's safeties Will Allen and Mike Mitchell, linebackers Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Shazier or cornerbacks Cortez Allen, William Gay, Brandon Boykin and Antwon Blake, no one is going to be able to stop Gronkowski. Expect the big tight end to rack up more than 100 yards on Thursday night.

Antonio Brown's Streak Gets Broken

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For 33 games in a row, Steelers receiver Antonio Brown has maintained a streak of at least five receptions for at least 50 yards per contest. It's an impressive streak, one that has helped Brown be considered one of the best, if not the best, receiver in the NFL.

But streaks are meant to be broken, and that could come on Thursday night. No, the Patriots don't have the secondary they did a year ago, with Darrelle Revis, Kyle Arrington Brandon Browner and Alfonzo Dennard all no longer with the team. But that doesn't mean the Patriots won't have a game plan that partially hinges around limiting Brown and won't be able to achieve it.

In three games against the Patriots, Brown has caught 14 passes on 24 targets for 138 yards and two touchdowns, giving him an average of 69 yards per game and just under five catches. That's dangerously close to Brown's streak stats. 

With the Steelers also being without receiver Martavis Bryant, even more defensive focus could be paid on Brown than usual. That could result in four catches for 40 yards, and the breaking of the streak.

Ben Roethlisberger Takes Zero Sacks

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Last year, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took 33 sacks, the fewest he's ever taken while completing a 16-game season. The offensive line appeared to be in the best shape of Roethlisberger's career, and combined with the quarterback learning how to get the football out of his hands more quickly, he managed to stay clean.

But Pittsburgh's line was a turnstile during the preseason, allowing 15 sacks in five games. Granted, only two were on Roethlisberger and most were a result of Pittsburgh's reserve linemen, but it was not a good sign of things to come, especially with center Maurkice Pouncey out at least half the season with an ankle injury.

New England's pass rush is nothing to sneeze at, totaling 40 sacks last year, with eight by defensive end Rob Ninkovich and six apiece for Dont'a Hightower and Chandler Jones. But Roethlisberger's line—and his quick passing—will win out on Thursday, and the Pittsburgh passer won't be taken down once. 

Markus Wheaton Blows Up

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With Antonio Brown locked down by the Patriots defense and Martavis Bryant suspended, some Steelers receiver is going to have to eat on Thursday night. And his name is Markus Wheaton.

In two seasons, Wheaton has averaged 25.3 yards per game (40.3 in 2014) and has never had more than 97 yards receiving in a single game. On Thursday, that will all change—in the spirit of these predictions being "bold," Wheaton will be the focus of Pittsburgh's offense to the tune of 140 receiving yards and three touchdowns, including a long score of 60 yards.

In August, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said that Wheaton will have a breakout season. So why not have that breakout begin in Foxborough, in a situation that favors him over every other Steelers receiver? 

No Talk of "Deflated Footballs"

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The long, national nightmare is over, right? New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had his four-game suspension overturned and the NFL's appeal isn't expected to be heard until well into 2016. The Patriots' deflated-football scandal and Brady's allegedly being adjacent to it is over.

So, in the spirit of putting behind us the story that captivated the hearts and minds of football fans for months on end and hours upon hours of the NFL media's time and attention, NBC's broadcasters Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth won't mention the story a single time on Thursday night.

The past is the past, right? The story is over.

Oh, who are we kidding. If this so-called "scandal" doesn't get mentioned 100 times, it will be impressive. But wouldn't it be great if Collinsworth and Michaels did the truly bold thing of not bringing this story up at all?