NFL: Projecting final records for all 32 teams
By Brad Rowland
Pittsburgh Steelers
The offensive line and the front seven are what will anchor a resurgence from the Steelers this season. Ben Roethlisberger has been running around behind a below-average line for some time now, but with Maurkice Pouncey back in the middle, they should take a step forward this season. Behind them, Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount form a quality rushing tandem (if they can stay out of trouble), and wide receiver Antonio Brown made the leap to stardom last season with the perennially underrated Roethlisberger dishing him passes.
Defensively, the front seven is terrifying, led by Cameron Heyward, Lawrence Timmons, second-year pass rusher Jarvis Jones and incoming rookie Ryan Shazier. Shazier was my selection for defensive rookie of the year, and he should be impactful from the word “go” in his first season.
Pittsburgh was actually bad on defense a year ago, but with their injection of youth and talent, that should change this season, and if the offense falls in line, it could be a return to the playoffs.
The Pick: 9-7