A year ago the Pittsburgh Steelers returned to the postseason after taking advantage of a very weak schedule that featured both the AFC and NFC South.
That isn’t the case this season as the Steelers have the toughest schedule in the NFL on paper.
While a lot can change after next week’s NFL Draft, let’s take a look at how the Steelers could fare in 2015 as I predict the outcome of every game on their schedule.
Week 1 at New England Patriots
The Steelers open up with the defending Super Bowl champions and it won’t be pretty.
The Steelers typically don’t play well in Foxboro and the last time Tom Brady got a look at this Steelers defense he threw for 432 yards and four touchdowns and led New England to a 55-31 win.
Pittsburgh’s defense isn’t any better on paper two years later so I expect the Pats to roll over the Steelers once again.
Both teams will be without their running backs as both Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount will be serving suspensions. That hurts the Steelers a lot worse as they are 0-4 without Bell in uniform since he came into the league.
Prediction- Patriots 38 Steelers 24 (0-1)
Week 2 vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Steelers home opener is against the now Jim Harbaugh-less 49ers.
San Francisco has fallen quickly from the NFL’s elite and while there still is no Bell in the lineup for the Steelers, I like them here against a rebuilding San Francisco squad.
Prediction- Steelers 27 49ers 17 (1-1)
Week 3 at St. Louis Rams
Nick Foles will likely be at the helm for the Rams, but that isn’t the story of this game.
It’s can the Steelers offensive line, who performed much better last season, deal with probably the best pass rush in the NFL.
The best case scenario is that Bell gets his suspension cut down to two games, because he will be needed in pass protection here in a big way.
Being that isn’t the case right now, I am leaning toward the Rams.
Prediction- Rams 20 Steelers 17 (1-2)
Week 4 vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens took a hit in the offseason and while Ozzie Newsome always has a plan in place to keep Baltimore competitive, this could be a tougher year than most for the Ravens.
That being said, this will be typical Ravens-Steelers. Not much more needs to be said.
Prediction- Steelers 20 Ravens 17 (2-2)
Week 5 at San Diego Chargers
A Monday night tilt on the west coast isn’t ideal as the Steelers aren’t typically great out west, but who knows where Philip Rivers could end up and this San Diego team isn’t exactly a juggernaut offensively on paper.
This could be a good game, but I lean towards the Steelers coming home with a win.
Prediction- Steelers 27 Chargers 20 (3-2)
Week 6 vs. Arizona Cardinals
You know Bruce Arians would love to stick it to the Steelers and if this game were in Arizona I think he would.
But despite the Steelers having a short week, west coast teams aren’t typically great on the east coast and the Steelers will find a way to win.
Prediction- Steelers 24 Cardinals 20 (4-2)
Week 7 at Kansas City Chiefs
The Steelers won a big late season game against the Chiefs last year, but won’t have the same fortunes this time around.
Arrowhead Stadium is a tough place to play and the Chiefs pass rush will be tough to contain.
Prediction- Chiefs 17 Steelers 14 (4-3)
Week 8 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Can the Steelers pass rush be competent enough to make a difference in any game this season?
If so then I like their chances to get to Andy Dalton. I’m not counting on it though. Typically, other than last season, the Bengals usually play well at Heinz Field and that will continue this season.
I don’t see how the Steelers will stop A.J. Green.
Prediction- Bengals 27 Steelers 23 (4-4)
Week 9 vs. Oakland Raiders
The Steelers have a terrible history of playing down to their opponent under Mike Tomlin and on more than one occasion have been stung by this Raiders squad.
Riding a two game losing streak, that can’t happen this time.
I like the Steelers at home.
Prediction- Steelers 34 Raiders 17 (5-4)
Week 10 vs. Cleveland Browns
The only question is whether or not the Steelers will get a look at Johnny Manziel or if the Browns will be done with him by this point in the season.
The Browns are due to beat the Steelers and came close last season, but it won’t happen this week.
Prediction- Steelers 30 Browns 10 (6-4)
Week 12 at Seattle Seahawks
Not many teams go into Seattle and come away with a win.
The Steelers will find this challenging as well.
A tough road contest against a team that has shown that they can shut down any offense in the league doesn’t look promising on paper.
Prediction- Seahawks 24 Steelers 13 (6-5)
Week 13 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Ben Roethlisberger lit the Colts up to the tune of six touchdown passes a year ago and while that may not happen again, I still like the Steelers offense against the Indianapolis defense.
The question is can the Steelers pressure Andrew Luck like they did a season ago.
If they can then I like the Steelers at home on a Monday night.
Many are tabbing the Colts as the AFC’s best team. That may be true, but they will lose this week.
Prediction- Steelers 38 Colts 30 (7-5)
Week 14 at Cincinnati Bengals
Similar to the way the Bengals have had past success in Pittsburgh, the Steelers practically own the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.
That will be the case once again.
Prediction- Steelers 31 Bengals 23 (8-5)
Week 15 vs Denver Broncos
This is an intriguing matchup between two of the game’s best quarterbacks and two of the NFL’s best offenses.
On paper the Broncos have a much better defense and the Steelers will struggle to keep Peyton Manning out of the end zone.
The key will be can the Steelers score touchdowns instead of settling for field goals in the red zone.
That always tends to be a problem and will cost them here.
Prediction- Broncos 31 Steelers 20 (8-6)
Week 16 at Baltimore Ravens
The Steelers got the better of the Ravens in Week 4 and now it is time for the Baltimore to get even.
At home the Ravens defeat the Steelers and coincidently cost Tomlin’s team a return to the playoffs.
Prediction- Ravens 20 Steelers 17 (8-7)
Week 17 at Cleveland Browns
As I mentioned, the Browns are due to beat the Steelers. It won’t happen this year though.
In what turns out to be a meaningless game for both teams, the Steelers stay over the .500 mark, but miss out on the playoffs with a Week 17 win in Cleveland.
Prediction- Steelers 26 Browns 13 (9-7)
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