After an offseason that left them full of question marks, the Steelers have geared up for a potential last run at a Super Bowl with Big Ben in 2021.
The 2020 season was a drag race for the Pittsburgh Steelers; a very hot start that died out very suddenly at the end. Regardless, yinzers everywhere have high expectations for 2021, and here is what is in store for Pittsburgh.
Best-case scenario
For an organization like the Steelers, it is always Super Bowl or bust; 2021 is no different. They made it clear they remain all in by bringing in Melvin Ingram, trading for Joe Schobert and drafting Najee Harris.
With a defense still among the best in the NFL — as well as a stacked offense at the skill positions — Pittsburgh will be in the thick of the Super Bowl hunt. Barring anything wild, this is Ben Roethlisberger’s swan song as a Steeler. What better way to send him off than with a third Super Bowl.
Worst-case scenario
The biggest question mark for the Steelers is their new offensive line. With All-Pros Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro both gone, as well as Matt Feiler and Alejandro Villanueva, the Steelers will have four new starters up front .
It isn’t the interior of the line the Steelers should worry about. Bringing in Trai Turner to replace DeCastro was a solid move, and both Kevin Dotson and rookie Kendrick Green seem fit for starting roles at guard and center, respectively.
The tackle situation is the biggest question mark in Pittsburgh, and could derail things. Chukwuma Okorafor has shown he’s unfit for a starting role, and while the Steelers are high on Zach Banner, we have yet to see him in action for a full season.
If the offensive line crumbles, so too does the Steelers season.
X-Factor
The Steelers biggest problem in 2020 was that everyone knew they couldn’t run the ball, and that they weren’t going to try to. This allowed defenses to take away the short passing game and dare Pittsburgh to beat them over the top — something they could rarely do.
The success of Harris and the run game will largely dictate how far the Steelers go. If he is able to run free out of the backfield, and also be a threat in the passing game, the Steelers will be a playoff team.
If it’s more of the same from 2020, then expect a tough road to January that will likely end with Pittsburgh missing out on the playoffs.
Biggest Game: Week 17 vs. Cleveland
The division could be on the line in what could very well be Roethlisberger’s final game at Heinz Field. Big Ben has owned the Cleveland Browns throughout his career, fielding a 24-3-1 record against Cleveland (including playoffs) throughout his career.
Add in the beef that has been revitalized in this rivalry with “The Browns is the Browns” quote from JuJu Smith-Schuster, the playoff beating the Steelers took in the Wild Card round from Cleveland, and the possible playoff implications, this is the biggest game of their season.
Bold Prediction
The Steelers are loaded on both sides of the ball, specifically on defense with All-Pros T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. While the AFC should be even more competitive than it was in 2020, their defense is arguably the best in the conference and a Mike Tomlin-Big Ben led team will always be in the mix.
I do think the Browns win the division, which would leave Pittsburgh with a wild card spot. Depending on which spot that is, we could see the third matchup between Cleveland and Pittsburgh in the Wildcard round for the second straight year, or a potential matchup against Buffalo, Tennessee, or Indianapolis.
Regardless, the furthest Pittsburgh makes it is the Divisional round of the playoffs, where we see the era of Roethlisberger come to a close.