Early Steelers Season Predictions

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Andre Curtis

What will the Pittsburgh Steelers record look like this upcoming season? With a new quarterback situation for the first time in 2 decades, and a slew of tough games against teams with good off season signings, the chances of double digit wins seems unlikely. Yet, the Steelers find a way to win games every year under Mike Tomlin somehow, whether it's through good hard-nosed defense, crazy game winning field goals, or a miraculous reach across the goal line against their division rival the Baltimore Ravens ( à la Antonio Brown Christmas day 2016) The question everybody wants to know of course is: who will be the Steelers quarterback this season? I believe it will be Kenny Pickett for a variety of reasons, so these predictions will be based accordingly. 

So, what will the Steelers record be this season? I am going with a solid 10-7. 10 wins is alot for a rookie starting quarterback, but the Steelers have an elite defense that if remains healthy, could be the best in the league. Plus, it is possible of course that Kenny Pickett doesn’t start the season. Let’s say that he doesn’t start in Week 1, but still comes in as the starter in week 5. He would still have 13 games, nearly an entire season to prove himself. Kenny Pickett is a freak athlete, and the best part of all... he can run. That is something that the Steelers haven’t seen from their hall of fame quarterback over the last 2 decades, in Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben is great, but he could never move like Kenny Pickett. They are two completely different quarterbacks and it is excellent that the Steelers are transitioning to a more mobile quarterback because that is what the game is evolving towards. 

Kenny Pickett and the Steelers young skill players are exciting, but this Steelers defense is fervently poised. The Steelers defense is loaded with talent with the likes of TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alex Highsmith, and various other young players who are getting better each year. The other teams in the AFC North pretty much rely on their offense to win games, with QB’s like Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow, who would blame them? Those guys are all great talents, but defense wins championships. The Los Angeles Rams were able to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl because of their ability to get to Joe Burrow and put him under immense pressure. The Pittsburgh Steelers have always relied on their elite defense to win, and in the playoffs, you want defensive players to be able to step up in the big moments. This Steelers defense will step up in the big moments this season, that’s a guarantee. Besides, with a defense this good, rookie QB Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubisky will only have to score around 20 points a game to give the Steelers a more than solid chance of winning. I believe there will be at least 4 or 5 wins by the Steelers this year where the games finish 16-9 or 13-3, something like that. 

I know that Steelers fans are frustrated with the offensive production in recent seasons, and they should be. Last year, the Steelers offense was abysmal at times. That being said, Dem’ Stillers are STILL Dem’ Stillers. They always just find ways to win games, which is something most NFL teams cannot say each and every year. Don’t believe me? Go check if Mike Tomlin has ever had a losing season in his 15 years as a coach, I'll wait. 

The one elephant in the room regarding the Steelers upcoming season is the rookie quarterback situation. The Steelers have 4 quarterbacks on the active roster (2 rookies), and all of them have a realistic chance to be the starter for the Steelers in early September when the season kicks off. The Steelers have 8 home games this year and 9 away games. To highlight some of the games this season, the Steelers play Tom Brady at Heinz Field in October, and a game against the Raiders on the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. Both of these have the trimmings for a classic. The battle for the AFC North division might be more intense than it’s ever been as well this season. The Bengals are trying to make another storybook Super Bowl run, the Ravens have a solid team on both sides of the ball, and you can’t overlook Deshaun Watson signing with the Browns. Still, regardless of the division, I think the Steelers will win 10 games this season and make the playoffs. Do you agree?