Dee Friedman
The Steelers had a strange 2013 season. They began the year 0-4 and 2-6. They had a chance to get to .500 in week 13 but lost at Baltimore 22-20. The next week they fell at home to Miami in the snow 34-28. Seemingly out of the race, Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati, Green Bay and Cleveland to end the year at 8-8 and were a missed field goal by Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop during week 17 from sneaking into the playoffs. Pittsburgh was 6-9-1 against the spread with seven overs and nine unders. Interestingly, seven of their eight home games went under and six of eight road games were over the total.
The Steelers had a strange 2013 season. They began the year 0-4 and 2-6. They had a chance to get to .500 in week 13 but lost at Baltimore 22-20. The next week they fell at home to Miami in the snow 34-28. Seemingly out of the race, Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati, Green Bay and Cleveland to end the year at 8-8 and were a missed field goal by Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop during week 17 from sneaking into the playoffs. Pittsburgh was 6-9-1 against the spread with seven overs and nine unders. Interestingly, seven of their eight home games went under and six of eight road games were over the total.
Along with the Bengals and Saints, Pittsburgh is tied for the 23rd most difficult schedule this year. Four of their first six games are on the road with virtually must win home games against Cleveland and Tampa Bay their only two games at Heinz Field prior to mid-October. From week four until seven the Steelers face teams that combined to go 10-50 last season. The Steelers finish the year with home games against Kansas City and Cincinnati.
Having missed the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 1998-2000, Pittsburgh made bold changes in the offseason. They let veterans Ryan Clark, Jerricho Cotchery, Brett Keisel, Emmanuel Sanders and LaMarr Woodley go. Role players LeGarette Blount, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Lance Moore were added. Linebacker Ryan Shazier was selected in the draft’s first round and Stephon Tuitt was picked in the second round to help the defensive front.
Pittsburgh is 22-1 to win the Super Bowl and 11-1 to take the AFC. They’ve made significant changes but coaching, quarterback, and their franchise defender remain the same. Players must emerge for the Steelers to be elite, but there is no reason to think they won’t contend, like always.
