SEASON PREDICTION 

The Steelers started this offseason with mutually parting ways with Mike Tomlin, who has been the head coach for franchise for the past 19 years. I and many others wondered if this was just a PR stunt to justify firing Mike Tomlin. But once they hired Mike McCarthy, it made it clear that Pittsburgh had absolutely no idea what to do with the sudden departure of Tomlin and ended up hiring the exact mold of coach that had been leading them to mediocrity over the past 10 years. On top of this, they had the Aaron Rodgers saga throughout the offseason, (something as a Packers fan I do not miss at all). Rodgers spent the entire offseason teasing if he would retire or come back for another year and finally decided that this would be his farewell tour. He said Mike McCarthy was the reason that made him decide to come back for one last hoorah. Switching gears from Rodgers to another unfortunate situation, Pittsburgh was primed to get Makai Lemon in the draft and were on the phone telling him that they planned on drafting him just for Philadelphia to swoop in and snag him before the Steelers pick. Thus, resulting in them drafting an offensive lineman and settling for a wide receiver in the second round of the draft.  

Despite the unfortunate circumstances of the draft, the Steelers offense is quite formidable. They have DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman, and Germie Bernard for their wide receiving core and a very impressive two-headed monster with Jaylen Wareen and Rico Dowdle in the backfield. Their offensive line is also above average ranking 14th on PFF and they have one of the best centers in the league manning the trenches. My biggest concern is how Rodgers will look in his 41-year-old season. We saw him favor quick dump offs and screen passes while being uncomfortable to stay in the pocket for an extended period of time. On top of that, his scrambling ability is all but gone at this stage in his career. I'm also not inspired by the Mike McCarthy hire as I feel it doesn't elevate the team but rather just give them a nice floor to fall back on which seems to be the Steelers identity with the running joke of death, taxes, and the Steelers being 9-8.   

On the defensive side of the ball, they signed Jamal Dean and Jaquan Brisker as their big free agency splashes to help the defense, but they are still an old bunch which give me injury concerns. Speaking of injury concerns if TJ Watt is not healthy the whole defense will come crumbling down and this season will be a disaster so the Steelers are hoping he can have a fully healthy season because their record without him is frightening (87-46) vs (3-11). The veteran presence will definitely be valuable throughout the season and with that I do believe that this unit will be average but nothing about this defense makes me believe that they will be able to hold up during the playoffs against the top AFC offenses like the Patriots, Bills, Ravens etc.  

Ironically enough I have this team finishing 9-8. I do believe that Rodgers still has a little bit left in the tank in his final season and will be able to spread the ball out to his three receiving weapons. However, I think his prime has long passed him, and the days of scrambling out the pocket to sidearm a ball 60 yards down the field with pinpoint precision are over. His lack of mobility paired with the Steelers quick check down offense will crumble in the playoffs and against the higher echelon of teams in the NFL. As for the defense, I'm not sure how much longer Cameron Hayward can continue to anchor that defensive line against the run. It seems like the Steelers are destined for, yet another mediocre season and a first-round playoff exit, but it will be interesting to see what direction they go once Rodgers is retired.