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With Proper Focus, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Schedule Favors a Repeat
Published: May 23, 2009
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As if going 12-4 and winning the Super Bowl isn’t difficult enough, the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers were able to pull it off with one of the most difficult schedules in recent NFL history.
Their path in 2009 should be much less violent, playing the NFC North and AFC West. However, it goes without saying that there are no easy games or easy schedules in the NFL; every week is difficult.
The Steelers have a tendency to play to the level of their competition, which is why an easier schedule may not benefit them. They had a disappointing 8-8 season in 2006 after winning Super Bowl XL.
Granted that was Bill Cowher’s final season and the team may have been distracted, but they need to keep that hangover in mind as they enter this season.
The team’s greatest threat is on the offensive and defensive lines. The average age of the starting defensive line at the beginning of the season will be 32, a risky proposition considering how important 3-4 linemen are. The Steelers might need their first round pick, Evander “Ziggy” Hood to make an impact early and often.
The offensive line is equally sketchy as the Steelers lose long time left tackle Marvel Smith and right guard Kendall Simmons to free agency. Both players were injured last year and the Steelers went on to win with Max Starks and Darnell Stapleton. Starks and Stapleton are expected to assume the same roles this year, but I’m not warm and fuzzy about it.
After having their bye-week fall early in the season for so many years, the Steelers will have the benefit of a Week 8 bye-week in 2009. The first half of the season could be difficult as the Steelers kickoff the 2009 NFL season on a Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans.
These are the same Titans who soundly trounced the Steelers (31-14) in Week 14 last year with the No. 1 seed in the AFC on the line. Titans number one draft pick Kenny Britt should feel right at home in his debut considering how he tortured the Pitt Panthers at Heinz Field during his career at Rutgers.
The Steelers travel to Chicago in Week Two to take on a Chicago Bears team that has arguably the best quarterback they’ve had since Sid Luckman retired in 1950. Jay Cutler caught on pretty quick during his rookie season in Denver, if he catches on to Chicago’s system the same way, the Bears could be a contender this season.
Week Three is not late enough in the season for the Bengals to have their annual meltdown; but it won’t be long before Chad Ochocinco starts eyeing the trade deadline and Andre Smith decides he just wants to go home (as he did at the NFL Combine).
The Chargers will make their third straight trip to Pittsburgh for a Sunday Night game in Week Four. The way San Diego came back at the end of last year was truly amazing; winning four straight to sneak into the playoffs and then beating the Indianapolis Colts goes to show just how much talent is on that team. I expect this to be a marquee game next year.
The Steelers will get a chance to pad their record in Weeks Five and Six when they go to Ford Field to take on the Lions and follow it with a home game against the Browns.
Considering that the Browns lost Kellen Winslow in the offseason and are relying on a broken down Jamal Lewis to carry the load, I don’t expect this to be a very productive offense, especially if Braylon Edwards is traded.
Week Seven could bring Brett Favre to Heinz Field if the Vikings pull the trigger on him. However, the Vikings’ run defense poses the greatest threat to the Steelers. If the Steelers can establish a ground game and control Adrian Peterson, I predict they’ll be 5-2 going into their bye-week with a relatively soft second half of the season.
Week Nine will take the Steelers to Denver on Monday Night Football to take on a Broncos offense that doesn’t have a starting running back or quarterback going into camp. Weeks 10 and 11 pit the Steelers against a Cincinnati team that should be well in the tank and a Kansas City team that might be in contention with Matt Cassell at the helm.
The Steelers go to Baltimore in Week 12 for a pivotal Sunday night game against the Ravens. After playing primetime games in Pittsburgh three of the last four years, the Ravens asked the league not to be scheduled in Pittsburgh for a night game.
They got their wish as the Steelers will play a primetime game in Baltimore for the first time since 2003. The Steelers beat the Ravens three times in 2008, but each game was very physical and emotional; I expect this game will be no different.
The Steelers will host Oakland in Week 13 to play a Raider team that could be the worst in the league at this point, but then have to quickly turn around and travel to Cleveland for a Thursday night game.
As usual, the AFC North will be decided in the last two weeks of the season as the Steelers and Ravens face off again in Week 16. This game will be especially important to the Steelers as they have a tough game in Miami the following week, whereas the Ravens will take on a lifeless Raiders team to finish out the season.
I expect the Steelers to win the AFC North and finish the regular season at 12-4, but it will require focus and leadership from the veterans who were on this team after Super Bowl XL.
