Although the Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to play a down in the 2015 season, it would be fair to say they have already dealt with their fair share of tough breaks and bad news.
Toughest schedule statistically in the NFL?
Check.
Open on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion?
Check.
Injuries and suspensions to a number of key members of the team?
Indeed.
That’s just scratching the surface if you ask a lot of Steeler fans who don’t exactly give you the impression that this is going to be a season to remember; at least in terms of things you might want to remember.
And let’s not forget we are talking about the defending AFC North champions.
Considering the number of issues and concerns facing the 2015 Steelers, it’s fair to have some doubts that the team will repeat last season’s success.
Despite of an offense that was as prolific as any in franchise history, the two and four game suspensions of Le’Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant, along with the loss of All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey for at least the first half of the season, have many questioning if it’s simply too much to overcome.
If the offense does overcome these challenges, it will start with franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger is coming off a career year and one of the biggest reasons for his success is his ability to embrace offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s schemes and stay healthy. In fact, Roethlisberger has made 32 consecutive starts and the Steelers are banking on the 33-year-old signal caller can keep that streak going this season.
What we know beyond Roethlisberger is the Steelers still have one of the best receivers in the game in Antonio Brown, solid secondary options in the passing game in Markus Wheaton and Heath Miller, and an offensive line that should be strong even without the injured Pouncey .
Plus, the additions of Bell and Bryant in weeks three and five will obviously be huge boost for the Steelers.
When you look at why the Steelers might struggle to push towards the double-digit win total they are almost certain to need to be a playoff team in 2015, it’s not the offense that has people expressing their doubts.
It’s all about the defense and daunting schedule.
The questions on defense are numerous and well documented; Can Keith Butler revive a group that had their fair share of struggles last season? Will the Steelers linebacking corps take a big step forward, especially first-round picks Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier? Will the Steelers secondary be able to cover anyone?
If the Steelers defense can come through and play well this season, there is reason to believe this team can challenge for supremacy in the AFC. If they struggle as badly as some believe they might, it could be a very long season.
The Steelers schedule will certainly not make the challenges any easier.
With nine 2014 playoff teams on the docket and an absolutely brutal final six-game stretch after Thanksgiving that includes road trips to Seattle, Baltimore and Cincinnati, the Steelers will need to get off to a good start and win the games against lesser teams on the schedule like the 49ers, Browns and Raiders.
The AFC is going to be extremely competitive in 2015, with teams like New England, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Denver all considered strong candidates to represent the conference in Super Bowl 50.
Challenges and adversity are already a theme for the 2015 Steelers, so it should come as no surprise that all of those teams will be regular season opponents this season.
The last time the Steelers faced such a tough road heading into the regular season was 2008. That year was one to remember for all the right reasons, and culminated with the franchise winning it’s sixth Super Bowl title.
Will the Steelers be able to recreate similar magic this season?
Injuries and suspensions combined with a defense with tons of question marks could end up being the demise of this team. There’s a ton of things to overcome, and it starts right off the bat Thursday night at Foxboro. Although the Steelers will be in the playoff mix until the bitter end, I just don’t see the Steelers winning the 10 games needed to earn a playoff birth in the AFC.
Final season prediction: 9-7 (tied for second in the AFC North)
