Win-Loss Predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Remaining Schedule
With six games behind them in the 2017 regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a 4-2 record and sit atop the AFC North.
However, there are still 10 more contests to go—five of which take place in prime time—that will do much to determine whether the Steelers are among the best teams in the AFC and destined for another playoff berth.
Let's take a look at the Steelers' final 10 games and, based on what we know about the team and their opponents, make updated predictions about which ones Pittsburgh will and won't win.
Week 7: Vs. Cincinnati Bengals
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Sunday will mark the Steelers' third in-division game of the season, when they play host to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Though the Bengals opened their year with a three-game losing streak, they went into their bye with two wins in a row and having made significant strides both on defense and in scoring points.
Still, this is not the Bengals team the Steelers have become accustomed to playing recently. The offense, led by quarterback Andy Dalton, hasn't been as explosive despite the addition of speedy running back Joe Mixon.
They have only one rushing touchdown so far this season, while Dalton has thrown only seven touchdowns to six interceptions while being sacked 15 times.
Though the Bengals have a three-headed run game featuring Mixon, Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill—thus leaving a window open for a Cincinnati win against a Steelers defense that has been vulnerable to high-volume rushing—the offensive line has struggled so much that it hasn't been a regular factor.
The line is also why Dalton has taken so much punishment this year. With Pittsburgh's defense totaling a championship-caliber 20 sacks through six games, it could be a rough Sunday for the Bengals' offense.
That's good news for the Steelers, who have been inconsistent in the red zone—especially at home.
Steelers 20, Bengals 9
Week 8: At Detroit Lions
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Week 8 marks the Steelers' first foray into prime time this season when they travel to Detroit to face the Lions.
This game could turn into a passing frenzy; Detroit's defense is better at stopping the run than the pass this year, while its offense hasn't gotten the run game going in any appreciably consistent way.
This should play right into Pittsburgh's hands. The Steelers may or may not have the better quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, but he has a stronger supporting cast than the Lions' Matthew Stafford.
And Stafford is playing behind such a leaky offensive line that he's already been sacked 23 times this season, with the number likely to climb by the time the Steelers come to town.
Forcing the Lions into throwing situations, particularly if the Steelers can pair it with building an early lead, should turn Stafford into a sitting duck, allowing Pittsburgh to get the win.
That early lead is key, though, because the Lions are capable of scoring points even when Stafford is under constant duress. Without it, the Steelers may struggle to catch up if they continue to attempt field goals rather than score touchdowns in the red zone.
Steelers 31, Lions 30
Week 10: At Indianapolis Colts
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Following their Week 9 bye, the Steelers head back on the road to take on the Indianapolis Colts.
And it's unlikely they will be seeing Andrew Luck, either, with the Colts quarterback suffering a setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery and a continuing lack of a timetable for his return (if it happens at all).
Thus, the Steelers will be facing a Colts offense led by Jacoby Brissett, who has been an upgrade over Week 1 starter Scott Tolzien.
Still, Brissett has thrown three touchdowns to three interceptions and has been sacked 14 times, and he's getting little help from a run game that is averaging only 3.5 yards per rushing attempt.
However, that run game has thus far earned the Colts eight touchdowns, so keeping Indianapolis away from and-goal situations will be a priority.
The good news for Pittsburgh is that Indianapolis' defense ranks near the bottom in almost every statistical category, including last in the league in scoring. This should not only free up Ben Roethlisberger and the passing game but also Le'Veon Bell on the ground.
The only real cause for worry is that the Steelers fall flat after the bye week, arriving in Indianapolis unprepared and underestimating the Colts.
If they do what they should do, though, this will be another win for the Steelers.
Steelers 20, Colts 10
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Week 11: Vs. Tennessee Titans
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The Steelers have four straight weeks of prime-time games in the latter part of the season, a stretch that kicks off at home in Week 11 against the Tennessee Titans on a Thursday night.
Though the Titans haven't been quite the powerhouse many predicted they would be at the beginning of the season, they have a 3-3 record and a share of the top spot in the AFC South.
They also had to deal with a game-plus without Marcus Mariota, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. But by Week 11, the starting quarterback should be feeling more like himself again, which makes the Titans offense a troublesome one for the Steelers.
Whether inside the pocket—as he was in Week 6 against the Colts—or allowed to run freely, as he often does when healthy, defenses haven't been able to get to Mariota much. He's been sacked only three times. Meanwhile, the run game ranks in the top 10 in yards and has produced nine touchdowns thus far.
The Steelers should see the Titans' run-heavy approach coming from a mile away, but then again they also should have in Weeks 3 and 5, when they lost to the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively, thanks to over 200 yards rushing by the opposing offenses.
Plus, Mariota is a much better passer than either Mike Glennon (who has since been replaced by Mitchell Trubisky) or Blake Bortles. Forcing the Titans QB to beat them through the air won't necessarily prove to be a wise strategy.
A short week, a night game and a powerful and often confounding visiting offense all seem to point in the direction of a Pittsburgh loss.
Steelers 13, Titans 21
Week 12: Vs. Green Bay Packers
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When the Steelers host the Green Bay Packers in Week 12's Sunday night game, they will have one less thing to worry about: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings, meaning his season is likely over. And even if it isn't, the odds are not good that he'll be ready to make his return in time for this contest on Nov. 26.
The Packers may not be in that bad of shape without Rodgers, though. While the quarterback is one of the best presently in the NFL, backup Brett Hundley may prove to be less of a downgrade than other No. 2s around the league.
But Rodgers' injury isn't the only one Green Bay has to worry about. Numerous starters on both offense and defense are working their way through various ailments, and while the Packers could be on the mend by the time Week 12 rolls around, they could also be in even worse shape.
It has yet to be seen just how different the Packers' offense will look sans Rodgers or what the status of the team's overall health will be when they take on the Steelers.
However, if things aren't much different as they are at present, Pittsburgh should have just enough of an opening to get a decisive victory in a game that would have been hard to predict the Steelers winning a month ago.
Steelers 17, Packers 10
Week 13: At Cincinnati Bengals
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The third game in the Steelers' four-game prime-time stint is their second clash with the Bengals, this time in Cincinnati.
While everything said about the Bengals heading into Week 7 still applies—and many things can also happen between that meeting and this one—there are other notable statistical oddities that could also factor into their Week 13 meeting.
One is the Bengals' night-time performance in the Andy Dalton era, which began in 2011. The Bengals have appeared in 19 prime-time games since he took over the starting quarterback job, winning five and losing 14.
Another factor is that the Bengals don't play the Steelers as well when they are in the friendly confines of their home stadium; since 2011, their six games in Cincinnati have resulted in just one win for the Bengals.
These intangibles keep coming into play anytime the Bengals appear in prime time as well as whenever the Steelers and Bengals meet at Paul Brown Stadium. And they will weigh heavily on the result of Week 13's contest; a Steelers victory seems fated.
Steelers 14, Bengals 13
Week 14: Vs. Baltimore Ravens
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The Steelers have already notched one win over the Baltimore Ravens, defeating their rivals 26-9 in Week 4.
When the two teams meet again in Week 14, the Ravens' playoff hopes may be all but dashed, or they could be clawing their way up the ranks in both the conference and the AFC North.
But no matter what is at stake for either Pittsburgh or Baltimore on December 10, this will be a hard-fought contest for both sides.
In Pittsburgh's favor is the Ravens' sheer volume of injuries. They have 14 players on injured reserve and another 14 working their way through injuries that have not caused them to be shut down for the season.
Much like the Packers, the Ravens could get healthier as the season progresses, though that's not guaranteed.
Even with these numerous injuries, though, the Ravens have still managed a 3-3 record through six games.
They have a top-10 passing defense and a top-10 rushing offense. In that sense, the Ravens have much in common with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who defeated the Steelers in Week 5 despite Pittsburgh being well aware of their defensive prowess versus the pass and their ability to run the ball at will regularly.
If the Ravens take the same approach and the Steelers are caught off guard again, Pittsburgh could be handed another surprising home loss, only this time in prime time.
There's also the fact the Steelers take on the New England Patriots in Week 15; this could result in a distracted team that is looking ahead rather than properly preparing for the Ravens. An upset here is not out of the question.
Steelers 13, Ravens 20
Week 15: Vs. New England Patriots
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Much like the Bengals struggle in prime time (and at home, when the Steelers come to town) and much like the Steelers seemingly have the upper hand any time they face the Kansas City Chiefs, the New England Patriots have figured out the formula to defeating Mike Tomlin's Steelers.
Since Tomlin took over as head coach in 2007, his team and the Patriots have met a total of eight times, both in the regular and postseasons, with the Patriots coming out on top in six of those games.
The Steelers have tried to adjust, both in game and between seasons, to try to stave off the Patriots' prowess but to little avail.
The Steelers will be looking for some measure of vengeance for last year's AFC Championship loss in Week 15, and they may get it. For as good as the Patriots' offense has been this year—particularly when it comes to passing—the defense has been just as bad, ranking 30th in points allowed and 32nd in yards through six games.
Pittsburgh's defense, for its shortcomings, has done a good job of bringing pressure to opposing quarterbacks, and Tom Brady is not immune to the affects of a solid pass rush.
As long as the Steelers can do so without too much blitzing—thus giving Brady plus matchups in coverage he will readily exploit if given enough time to throw—and limit their own offensive mistakes, Pittsburgh could get some measure of redemption.
This contest could determine both playoff seeding and home-field advantage in the AFC postseason picture, so a Steelers' win would have bigger implications than just on game day itself.
Steelers 27, Patriots 23
Week 16: At Houston Texans
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The Steelers' final road game of the 2017 regular season takes place in Week 16 when the team faces the Houston Texans.
The Texans have been a surprising team this year, ranking second in scoring thanks to the 15 touchdowns rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson has thrown. But questions remain.
Can Watson continue to carry the offense using both his arm and his legs? And can the team as a whole weather the losses of defensive end J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus down the stretch?
Having neither Watt nor Mercilus helps out Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offensive line considerably, and it should allow them to move the ball more freely than they would otherwise.
And Pittsburgh's defense does love to face a young quarterback such as Watson, who they can confuse with disguised coverages, blitzes and other defensive tricks that older, more experienced passers may be able to see coming.
However, the Steelers may not have much to fight for once Week 16 rolls around, especially if their playoff berth is locked down and they have already snagged the title of AFC North champions.
The Texans, meanwhile, could still be vying for their divisional crown and, if not, a wild-card playoff spot. Houston could be the hungrier team here, which could lead to a Steelers loss.
Steelers 12, Texans 16
Week 17: Vs. Cleveland Browns
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In Week 1, Pittsburgh barely escaped Cleveland with a win, defeating the Browns 21-18. Since then, the Steelers have improved steadily, building their defense into one of the premier pass-stopping units in the league and working to increase the balance on offense.
The Browns, on the other hand, have been flailing. They are winless, at 0-6, and turned away from rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer in Week 6 only to turn back to him after replacement Kevin Hogan floundered against the Texans. By the time Week 17 rolls around, it's possible the Browns will not have won a game.
While the Browns have time to find their footing and turn their season around and the Steelers could collapse in the coming weeks, no signs point to either happening.
The Browns, for all of their talent, are a young roster with an offense that lacks an identity and a defense that has yet to turn coordinator Gregg Williams' vision into a reality.
The only potential saving grace for the Browns is that the Steelers, with a playoff spot and the AFC North crown in their grasp, opt to rest starters for the final game of the regular season. In that case, the Browns may be able to get out of Pittsburgh with a win.
Otherwise, it doesn't seem likely—the Browns have not won a game in Pittsburgh in the Mike Tomlin era. Assuming the Steelers suit up their starters for most, if not all, of this game, Pittsburgh should be able to get a convincing victory.
Steelers 30, Browns 9
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