
Predicting the Steelers’ record for the season is so cliché, so mindless, so not chic. OK, then, let’s do it.
We’ve been predicting the outcome of the Steelers’ entire season on the morning of their season opener for years, so why stop? In Pennsylvania now you can put money on their record, legally, in a casino or right on your smartphone. That puts more pressure on me to get it right, right? No, it doesn’t, because I don’t bet and you are the ones putting down your hard-earned cash on these things, so don’t blame me if I get it wrong. However, I’ve had an uncanny ability to get it right, or at least close enough, over the years.
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With six home games in its first nine matchups plus the bye week, it behooves Pittsburgh to get out to a fast start, and we predict it will.
So here goes, the entire 2019 Steelers season outcome on a game-by-game basis. Don’t thank me, but I do accept tips.
The schedule and the result:
• At New England Patriots — The Steelers have one victory in New England in this century, and Tom Brady did not play in that game. The Steelers can win this game because I truly believe they will be a different team on offense and defense this year. Look for them to run the ball with James Conner rather than lean heavily on the pass. But I’ve seen this play too often, and I picked the Steelers to win the last time they played in Foxborough, in the AFC title game, to my regret. Is Brady playing tonight? Then make it Patriots 27, Steelers 24. LOSS
• Seattle Seahawks — The Seahawks are a trendy pick right now for the whole season, especially after they obtained Jadeveon Clowney in a trade from Houston. But the Steelers win against the good teams at home. (We’ll pick the scores for the rest of the schedule later). WIN
• At San Francisco 49ers — The 49ers are supposed to be better this season. At 4-12 last season, they can’t get much worse. The Steelers also have a terrible record on the West Coast, and this is the first of three out there (counting Arizona), and y’all remember what happened the last time the Steelers played a terrible team in the Bay area. Nevertheless … WIN
• Cincinnati Bengals — Now, every time the Steelers play a weaker team at home (or on the road, for that matter), some will predict a loss because it has happened often enough. Not this time, not against the Bungles. WIN
• Baltimore Ravens — The reigning AFC North division champs come to town relatively early, and there’s been little buzz around them this season, as the Browns and Steelers captured most of the attention. This is still Pittsburgh’s chief rival. WIN
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• At Los Angeles Chargers — A new stadium for the Steelers to play in, but not the same result. The Chargers are more highly favored by oddsmakers than the Steelers to win the Super Bowl this year, for good reason. They are a talented bunch and beat the Steelers in their own playground last season. Make it two straight. LOSS
• Miami Dolphins — The Dolphins arrive in Pittsburgh in a tank. They are gearing up for future seasons, not this one. It’s unfortunate the Steelers had their off week before this game because this should be a walk-through. WIN
• Indianapolis Colts — Even though Andrew Luck retired, the Colts could still contend with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. The Steelers faced him once and beat him 20-17 in 2017, when he was 14-of-24 for 222 yards, two TDs and one interception. WIN
• Los Angeles Rams — Aaron Donald’s return to Heinz Field will be the big story, and these are the kinds of games that often bring out the best in the Steelers. Not this time. LOSS
• At Cleveland Browns — The buildup to this will be akin to some meetings in the 1990s, or whenever it was the Browns last had a good team. Cleveland fans were lining up Saturday afternoon to get into the parking lots for today’s opener against Tennessee. The Browns are back, and they derail the Steelers for a second time at home, only not a tie this time. LOSS
• At Cincinnati Bengals — The Steelers have won their past nine games now against the Bengals. Make it 10. WIN
• Cleveland Browns — The last time a Browns team swept the Steelers in their two-game season series, Chuck Noll was still coach in Pittsburgh. That Browns team is now in Baltimore. It’s been 31 years since that happened, 1988, when the Steelers went through a miserable 5-11 season. It’s not going to happen this year, either. WIN
• At Arizona Cardinals — Some are picking this as one of those road losses against a crummy team. Arizona has a rookie coach and a rookie quarterback and good weather this time of year. What the Cardinals won’t have this day is a victory. WIN
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• Buffalo Bills — Too bad Antonio Brown did not agree to that original trade the Steelers and Bills had. At least in Buffalo, he would not have needed cryotherapy to get frostbite on his feet. But then, he’d still probably have found his way to New England. WIN
• At New York Jets — It’s rare for Le’Veon Bell to still be playing this time of the year, and behind that woeful Jets line, he might not make it this far. Even if he does, it won’t make a difference in the game, but oh the drama beforehand. WIN
• At Baltimore Ravens — This could be for the division title, which is what the networks hope, or it could mean a playoff seed for the Steelers if they win this to go 12-4. However, these teams rarely sweep each other. LOSS
By my math, that gives the Steelers an 11-5 record and the AFC North division title. I picked them 10-6 last week, but that was just something I threw out before doing my intensive study throughout the week on a game-by-game basis. They still could get a seed at 11-5, but at the least, they will have a home game to open the playoffs. Now, as long as that home playoff game isn’t against Jacksonville …
(Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today)
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