Pittsburgh Steelers: 15 Reasons Why They'll Win the Super Bowl This Year
Pittsburgh Steelers: 15 reasons why they'll win the Super Bowl are each dependent on what happens to the rest of the league, now and into the playoffs.
No one can predict with absolute certainty who will win their division, let alone their conference, or the Super Bowl. But the Steelers are as safe a bet as anyone.
Inside are the top 15 reasons why, this February, the Steelers will hoist up their third Lombardi Trophy in six seasons (seventh all time), making a claim as a comparable dynasty to Tom Brady's New England Patriots.
No. 15: The Schedule (Stretch Run)
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At this point last season, the Steelers were 6-2, just like they are right now. Yet, they missed the playoffs.
That was due to an atrocious stretch beginning in mid-November when they lost five games in a row.
After the Steelers host New England on Sunday night, they will again be at that critical mid-November point. Now it won't be easy, because they have games against (potential) division leaders Oakland, the New York Jets and the Ravens, but they should be able to finish the season 5-2.
They have what should be guaranteed wins over Buffalo and Carolina. And although Cleveland is much improved, the Steelers should win that one too. The same goes for a home game against the crumbling Bengals.
If Pittsburgh can take split those home games against good teams in Oakland and the Jets, and redeem themselves for losing to Baltimore in the rematch, they should finish the sesaon up at 12-4 or 13-3 (depending on how they fare against the Pats on Sunday Night). That should be a good enough record to earn the top seed in the playoffs.
No. 14: Pittsburgh Weather Is Frightful
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Earning home field in the playoffs is very difficult: The Steelers have a tough road to getting the top seed in the playoffs (although earning the second seed doesn't prohibit a team from playing both their playoff games at home: The 2008 and 2004 Steelers were two-seeds and played both games at Heinz Field).
Regardless of how it happens, Pittsburgh might be able to get both games by the confluence of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers.
And if that happens the Steelers have a tremendous edge. (Yes, they blew home field in 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2004, but they didn't in 1995 and 2008, so let's call it a wash). New England and/or the Jets won't be fazed by the cold weather.The Ravens probably not either.
But if Houston, Indianapolis, or Oakland come to town, you have to give the Steelers an extra boost because of the snow factor.
Everyone in the NFL is a professional who has played many games in the cold and snow. But don't think it's not another thing to worry about for a team coming to Heinz Field.
No. 13: Kickers.....Both Of Them
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Steelers kicker Jeff Reed has not been good this year. He's missed crucial field goals against New Orleans, Baltimore and Atlanta. He missed another important one in the second half against Cincinnati on Monday night.
But he really steps his game up in the playoffs: He has made his last 13 postseason field goal attempts. More importantly, he has a tremendous advantage at Heinz Field: The winds in the south end zone are very difficult to negotiate (both end zones really) and he's kicked there in 64 games.
Punter Daniel Sepulveda, however is just as important to the Steelers team. Both Steeler Super Bowl rosters of the 2000s, featured veteran punters who were past their prime: Chris Gardocki and Mitch Berger.
Sepulveda is becoming one of the best in the AFC and his ability to pin teams back (11 inside the 20) gives the Steelers defense an even bigger boost.
There will probably be a time this season where the defense scores a safety thanks to Sepulveda's placement inside the three yard line. That could be the difference in a postseason victory.
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No. 12: Experience
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Plenty of the pieces have changed for the Steelers since their first Super Bowl win of the new era. And a lot is different about the 2010 team compared to the 2008 Super Bowl winning group.
The offensive line is almost entirely rebuilt. Gone are players like Marvel Smith, Alan Faneca, Jeff Hartings. And even Willie Colon (who started the 2008 season) is out this year with an injury. There's a new running back a few new receivers and new parts to the defense.
But at critical spots like quarterback (Roethlisberger), slot receiver (Ward), tight end (Heath Miller) defensive line (Casey Hampton, Chris Hoke, Brett Keisel, potentially Aaron Smith) linebacker (James Farrior, James Harrison) and defensive back (Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu) there is expereince that has been a part of two Super Bowl triumphs.
In the postseason, that can never be overlooked.
No. 11: Heath Miller
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There are better tight ends in the NFL than Heath Miller.
Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez are better. Jason Witten is probably better. Visanthe Schianco, Vernon Davis, and Dustin Keller are great young models.
But regular season stats aren't everything. Miller has been a tremendously clutch playoff performer.
In seven postseason games he has 26 catches, 348 yards and three touchdowns. Those are good numbers. But in their most recent Super Bowl appearance he had five catches, including two on the game winning drive.
Miller is often forgotten when fans and the media think about the Steelers pass catchers. If defensive coordinators and linebackers forget about him, because he is such a big target and has such great hands, he might end up scoring a game-winning touchdown.
No. 10: The NFC Just Isn't As Good
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It's a HUGE "if" to say "if the Steelers win the AFC...."
The Jets, Patriots, Ravens and Colts would be terribly difficult obstacles to overcome in the postseason. Pittsburgh could crush, narrowly win, lose, or get blown out by any one of those teams.
And the Raiders, Chiefs and a possible AFC South wild card like Tennessee or Houston are no pushovers either. But if the Steelers do manage to qualify for Super Bowl XLV, they will probably be the favorite, no matter who they play. Remember, the AFC has won five of the past seven Super Bowls.
Yes, they lost on the road to New Orleans, but before that they had wins over Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Green Bay and Minnesota. They should have beaten the Giants in 2008 (had it not been for a James Harrison long snap over the punter's head).
The Eagles are probably the worst matchup for the Steelers. But they have as good a chance as anyone to stop Michael Vick.
It won't be easy, but if the Steelers collect a ninth Lamar Hunt Trophy this January, they are a good bet to add a seventh Lombardi Trophy as well.
No. 9: Bit Players
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To win a Super Bowl, your star player has to be great. Your pro bowlers have to be great. And for the most part all 11 starters have to be great.
But every Super Bowl features a few plays where a reserve (a third down back, a third-option receiver, a rotating defense lineman) makes a key play on offense or defense.....not just special teams.
Pittsburgh has a few bit players who have proven they can do that.
Third down back Mewelde Moore made several huge plays for the Steelers during their 2008 run to a title; before that, in 2005, Verron Hayes was just as good. And that same year, it was a then backup defensive end (Brett Keisel) who made a tremendous sack and fumble of Jake Plummer on the road in the AFC Championship Game against Denver.
This season's edition of the Steelers has Moore and Isaac Redman, both of whom can gain yards on screens and draws when Rashard Mendenhall needs a breather. And Matt Spaeth is a very good backup tight end who Roethlisberger trusts near the goal line.
On defense, Chris Hoke has long been in the shadow of nose tackle Casey Hampton (well, everyone is literally in the shadow of Casey Hampton). But Hoke has made dozens of great plays for Pittsburgh in the postseason and is as good a backup 3-4 defensive tackle as there is in the NFL.
If Pittsburgh wins Super Bowl XLV, one (or all) of these reserves will make a big play.
No. 8: Ben Roethlisberger
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The great, first ballot hall of fame quarterbacks in the NFL today, are Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
But since 2005, Ben Roethlisberger has won two Super Bowls, while Manning has one and Brady has zero. And Big Ben has hardly been a "care taker" quarterback.
He was an important part of their Super Bowl XL team and the centerpiece of their Super Bowl XLIII team. And in that game he led the type of "Tom Brady Super Bowl drive" that twice made the Pats quarterback a legend.
Brady and Manning may be better passers, but Roethlisberger's escape ability and knack for playmaking is unparalleled in the AFC. Only Michael Vick is better. (Wouldn't that make for a great Super Bowl matchup: The Keystone State Bowl we just barely missed out on in 2004 and 2008).
There isn't a secondary in the NFL that is unequivocally "great" and for that reason, in any 2010 playoff game Roethlisberger is extremely dangerous if he breaks contain.
No. 7: Special Teams Returners
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No one would confuse Emmanuel Sanders or Antonio Brown for Santonio Holmes.
Apart from his pass catching, Holmes was vital to the Steelers Super Bowl run in 2008, because he was an electric punt returner. He had an important punt return for a touchdown against the Chargers in the AFC Divisional Game.
But both Sanders and Brown have improved the kickoff return team. And Antwaan Randle El is still capable of returning punts for big yardage.
The punt return game isn't as good as it was in 2008, but on the whole, the return unit is more consistent.
No. 6: Mike Wallace For Santonio Holmes Is An Even Trade
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This spring, when the Steelers dealt Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes to the Jets (and got very little in return), it certainly dropped the team down in preseason Power Rankings. And with good reason: Holmes was the speedy, down-the-field receiver the Steelers hadn't had since Louis Lipps.
But Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert knew what they were doing. Holmes was a headache for the team and they had an apt replacement in Mike Wallace.
Wallace isn't as solid of a route runner as Holmes but he is just as fast, if not faster. And his hands are just as good as Holmes, who did drop his share of passes.
Of course it would be better if they had Wallace and Holmes to go along with Hines Ward and Heath Miller. But as it stands, the Steelers have a great corp of pass catchers and won't miss Holmes in the playoffs.
Who knows, Wallace could become (incredibly) the fourth different Steelers wide receiver to win a Super Bowl MVP.
No. 5: Balance Across The AFC
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Kansas City, Baltimore, New England, Indianapolis, the Jets and even Houston have had turns this season as "the team to beat" in the AFC. And so have the Steelers.
But no team has been a dominant force in the conference. That leaves a berth in the Super Bowl totally up for grabs.
And all things being equal, you have to consider the teams who have actually won the conference (and the Super Bowl) the favorites. That leaves the Steelers, Colts, and Pats.....it's been a decade since the Ravens won it, and Ray Lewis is virtually the only player left.
And while the Colts and Patriots have Top 20 all-time (thanks NFL Network) quarterbacks, the Steelers signal caller is pretty good too. More importantly the Steelers running game and defense are vastly superior to those to teams. In the postseason, that gives the Steelers an edge.
No. 4: The Coaching Staff
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Although there is almost 40 years seaparating the two men, Dick LeBeau and Mike Tomlin (the two most important coaches the Steelers have) are very similar.
Neither man is prone to panicking and that shows up every Sunday. Even when the Steelers were mired in a terrible swoon last November/December, Tomlin was supremely confident (probably too confident for the media's taste).
But he never panicked. The same is true about LeBeau. He's been around so long that he doesn't fret about falling behind and he doesn't just sit on a lead when the team is ahead.
And Bruce Arians has been criticized a great deal by the Pittsburgh press, but he has won a Super Bowl as an assistant and another as an offensive coordinator, both with the Steelers and both in the last five seasons.
The Steelers brain trusts are as sharp as any in the NFL.
No. 3: Rashard Mendenhall
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The Steelers won Super Bowl XL with a pretty decent running game.
Jerome Bettis was a fine goal line back, but he was literally at the end of his career. And Willie Parker was a very good back, having set a new Super Bowl record with that 75-yard run against the Seahawks. But the Steeler running game was not "dominant."
Three years later, when the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII, their ground attack was average at best. Parker was all banged up and not the same back. And rookie Rashard Mendenhall was on injured reserve by October. They even had to bring Najeh Davenport back that season.
In 2009 and 2010, Mendenhall has proven that he is one of the best backs in the NFL. Not as great as Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson. But while Ben Roethlisberger was suspended the Steelers passing game scared no one, and Mendenhall still rushed for better than 100 yards per game.
With a great feature back and the rest of their pieces, the Steelers should be able to score on any defense in the NFL.
No. 2: The Trick Play
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The decisive play when the Steelers won their first non-1970s Steeler Curtain Super Bowl was a 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward.
Although it wasn't Ben Roethlisberger who threw it. Wide receiver and former University of Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El threw it on a reverse pass: Roethlisberger handed it to Parker who flipped it to Randle El who tossed it to Ward.
That play sealed the Steelers win in Super Bowl XL. Randle El left Pittsburgh that spring to join the Redskins, but he's back now. And against the Bengals they used that same Randle El to Ward trick play to score a huge touchdown on Monday night.
Having a former college quarterback on the field in the receiver position (two really, if you count Ward) means defenses have to prepare for that extra hard. And that paranoia about the run turning into a trick play should really open things up for Rashard Mendenhall as well.
No. 1: The Steel Curtain
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It may be stating the obvious, but if the Steelers win Super Bowl XLV, it will be because of the defense.
Although Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward were the MVPs of their last Super Bowl wins, exceptional defense is the reason they won the Lombardi Trophy. Against Seattle, they repeatedly stuffed the Seahawks MVP Shaun Alexander and picked off Matt Hasselbeck late in the game to secure the win (please no comments about the referees, we know they were bad calls).
And despite giving up that late touchdown to Larry Fitzgerald in the final minutes against Arizona, James Harrison's interception and the last minute forced fumble of Kurt Warner were more important than Holmes' catch in the end zone.
This season's version of the Steel Curtain is arguably better than those 2005 and 2008 editions. Their sack numbers aren't quite as good. But they are forcing more turnovers. Once they start playing better pass defense in the fourth quarter, they'll be unquestionably the best defense in the NFL. The return of Brett Kiesel and possibly Aaron Smith will correct that.
They'll already the best run defense the league has seen in years.
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