5 NFL teams with most to prove this season

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws as he is hit by Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones (45) during the first quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 18, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) leads wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) and teammates in a huddle in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers fans are officially living in the past. The team has an impressive six Super Bowl victories, but their most recent Super Bowl appearance was in 2011 when they lost to the Green Bay Packers. Their last Super Bowl win was at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, nearly a decade ago.

While the Steelers have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and an impressively efficient offense, their defense has been more of a liability than an asset over the last several seasons. The investment of first round picks in the secondary during the last two drafts shows that the Steelers are aware of this deficiency, but it remains to be seen if their investment will pay off.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger likely has several productive seasons left in his career, but time is running out for the Steelers to leverage his talent and skill to bring home a seventh Super Bowl ring. With Big Ben at the helm, a Super Bowl seems like a reasonable possibility each season. Once his time in the NFL has come to an end, it is hard to imagine anything but intense rebuilding, unless the team hits the draft lottery.

With the number of superstar-level players on their roster, the Steelers should be able to come back from last year’s messy AFC Championship loss and plow forward to a Super Bowl. If, however, they continue to play down to inept teams and have no suitable plan for when Big Ben is injured, Steelers fans could be left disappointed once again this season.

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