2016 Record - 11-5-0
Head Coach - Mike Tomlin
Offensive Rank - 7th (373 yards per game, 24.9 points per game)
Defensive Rank - 12th (343 yards allowed per game, 20.4 points allowed per game)
Coming back for his 14th season is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who passed for 3,819 yards with 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season. His backup is Landry Jones. Running back Le'Veon Bell (1,268 rushing yards and seven TD, along with 75 receptions for 616 yards and two TD) has been out all pre-season, but is expected to sign his franchise tender before the season opener. On hand are Knile Davis and Fitzgerald Toussaint to fill in when needed.
The wide receivers have All-Pro Antonio Brown (106 receptions, 1,284 yards and 12 TD), Darrius Heyward-Bey, Sammie Coates (21, 435, two TD), Eli Rogers (48, 594, three TD) and Martavis Bryant, who missed all of the 2016 season due to a suspension. The tight ends are Jessie James (39, 338, three TD) and Ladarius Green, who missed ten games a year ago while making 18 receptions for 304 yards and one touchdown.
The defense has linebacker Ryan Shazier (3 1/2 QB sacks and three interceptions) along with veteran James Harrison (five sacks), Vince Williams and Cameron Heyward heading up the front seven. Rookie linebacker T.J. Watt (Wisconsin) will look to make an impact. The secondary has Artie Burns (three picks), Ross Cockrell and veteran William Gay looking to shore up the pass defense. In addition, the Steelers just signed Joe Haden (cornerback), who was released by the Browns. Haden had three interceptions last season.
OUTLOOK FOR 2017 - The Steelers had a decent season once again in 2016, but missing key players (Bryant-suspended all season and Bell - groin injury in playoffs) proved to be too much as they fell to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin knows the team can get to the Super Bowl, especially with their big play offense featuring Big Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and this year wide receiver Martavis Bryant is back to take pressure off Brown.
If the defense can improve against the pass (the Steelers were torched for 243 yards per game against the pass last year) and get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, it would go far to help them in their quest to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2010 season.
Pittsburgh was a plus-five in the turnover category, getting 13 interceptions and ten fumble recoveries. The key will be staying healthy as the season wears on and the defense coming up big when it matters most to take some pressure away from the offense.
The team will be tested late in the season with a very tough schedule against playoff-caliber teams, including a huge showdown with defending Super Bowl champion New England (in Pittsburgh) in mid-December.
The Steelers should win the AFC North again, going 11-5 and from there it will be up to them to do what they have fallen short of the past six years. That being getting to and (possibly) winning the Super Bowl.
It could happen this year.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Cleveland
Week Two - vs. Minnesota
Week Three - at Chicago
Week Four - at Baltimore
Week Five - vs. Jacksonville
Week Six - at Kansas City
Week Seven - vs. Cincinnati
Week Eight - at Detroit
Week Nine - BYE
Week Ten - at Indianapolis
Week Eleven - vs. Tennessee
Week Twelve - vs. Green Bay
Week Thirteen - at Cincinnati
Week Fourteen - vs. Baltimore
Week Fifteen - vs. New England
Week Sixteen - at Houston
Week Seventeen - vs. Cleveland
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