2013 NFL Predictions: Pittsburgh Steelers Projected Wins plus AFC and Super Bowl Odds

2013 NFL Predictions: Pittsburgh Steelers Projected Wins plus NFC and Super Bowl Odds: After being a staple of the playoffs for the better part of a decade, the Pittsburgh Steelers battled injuries and a mediocre offense in 2012 and eventually settled for an 8-8 record, missing out on the postseason for just the second time in six years. While the offense struggled all year, ranking in the bottom half of the league in scoring and the bottom 10 in rushing, the defense remained solid. However, the veteran unit couldn’t shoulder the load the entire year, leading to a Pittsburgh collapse down the stretch. The Steelers dropped five of their final seven games, including three of their last four, to finish at the .500 mark. Heading into the 2013 NFL season, Pittsburgh will try to prove that last year was just a blip on the radar rather than the start of a rough patch for one of the league’s most storied franchises.

The Good News:

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger remains one of the toughest in the NFL, and his ability to avoid sacks and extend plays is second to none. He is also a two-time Super Bowl champ, and having a proven winner under center is an excellent piece to build an offense around. On the defensive side of the ball, plenty of key contributors are back for a unit that allowed the sixth-fewest points in the NFL last year and was the stingiest in terms of yards allowed. From pass-rusher LaMarr Woodley and linebacker Lawrence Timmons in the front seven to corner Ike Taylor and safety Troy Polamalu in the secondary, Pittsburgh still has a veteran core of playmakers that should keep the team’s defense among the league’s best.

The Bad News:

Pittsburgh’s offense that was already below average, and it lost its most explosive weapon in the offseason when receiver Mike Wallace signed with Miami. Meanwhile, running back Rashard Mendenhall also departed in free agency, and rookie rusher Le’Veon Bell will miss at least the start of the year with an injury. Throw in the fact that offensive tackles Willie Colon and Max Starks were also among the offseason losses, and the Steelers will be counting on a lot of unproven faces to jumpstart their offense in 2013. The defense didn’t escape entirely intact either, losing mammoth nose tackle Casey Hampton and linebacker James Harrison. The loss of Harrison in particular could cause issues as Pittsburgh will try to replace his fiery leadership.

 Outlook:

The Steelers are in a tough spot. They have a core of players that have delivered the franchise multiple titles and a ton of wins. The defense still has enough talent to make Pittsburgh a contender now, but the offense is a work in progress. Young offensive linemen like Mike Adams and David DeCastro are still adapting to NFL competition, receivers Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders are both taking on the largest roles of their careers and Bell will have to wait a month or so before he proves he can be the next workhorse back in Pittsburgh. In the end, it will be up to Roethlisberger and the defense to carry the load while the rest of the offense gets up to speed, and that is a lot to ask. The Steelers should definitely improve as the year goes on, but a playoff run is probably still a year away.

Prediction: 8-8, Third in the AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers Odds to Win AFC North: +165
Pittsburgh Steelers Odds to Win AFC: +1000
Pittsburgh Steelers Odds to Win Super Bowl: +2000

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