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ATL96Steeler
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Well Steelernation…we all know the window is closing every year on Ben's career...he's talked of extending, beyond the ’19 season. But, he's also said he wants his horses upfront and I think we will start to see some turnover there next year...so we are working with Ben for 2018, hopefully all of it.
Looks like 8 national or majority of the country games…For some reason ATL always gets another 2 or 3 Steeler games that are not national…I’m committed to streaming TV now so I’ll probably be searching for 4 or 5 games.
On the surface it looks to be a tough schedule, certainly tougher than LY. Week 7 bye is probably a good spot, especially if they start strong. In DIV, every team will probably be better than they were LY, but to what degree is hard to say recordwise...BAL may not do much better than 9-7.
Assuming the health of the team is good all season.
High side 12-4
Low side 10-6
I'm thinking 4-2 in DIV...I think they're capable of the north sweep again, but I have them losing @BAL and @CIN...I can see them losing one to CLE, but I'm projecting a sweep again here...week 1 they should be pumped facing Haley, and barring a big injury they should handle them at home coming off the bye in wk 8.
NFCS
Wk 3, @ TB MNF... I think Winston now realizes he's truly on thin ice and will play his best ball. National game, I think MT will have them ready...don't know if TB has the edge pressure to keep Ben under control. Win
Wk 5, ATL coming to town...the pass rush/DEF will need to be ready...swing game imo..this could go either way, but I'm calling it now. Win
Wk 10 CAR, TNF...road team often struggles in this game...hopefully that holds true again. Win
Wk 16 @ NO…late CBS game, tough place to play, need the DL/edge boys and secondary to have great games…Loss
AFCW
Wk 2…KC, I’m not sure what the Chiefs will be with a 1st yr starter @ QB, but the kid can play…Win.
Wk 12…@ DEN, CBS late the Tebow game continues to haunt me. Some redemption this week. Win
Wk 13…LAC, dangerous team, they have great edge players on DEF and solid QB/weapons on OFC…Tomlin seems to let one get away every year…Loss.
Wk 14…@ OAK…SNF 3rd AFCW game in a row and another trip out west and it precedes the NE game…Loss
Other Key Games
Wk 11 @ JAX…SNF, Time to find out about this team. Can they stop the big RB Fournette? Based on the early ILB issues, I say no, they but they do enough on OFC to win a close one…Win
Wk 15…NE, Another big late CBS game. Nemesis BB/Brady…finally, I think the 3 S DEF works in this game. Win
Doing the math, 2 DIV losses and 3 out of DIV…11-5 is about where I think they will finish if they split ATL and LAC at home. Both are 50/50 type games right now even though they will probably be favorites in both…don’t think they will lose them both, but gut feeling is they will lose one of them.
This team still has some holes of its own. Randy Fichtner takes over the OC role. Will they be more diverse on OFC? Is the secondary finally championship caliber? Will the edge pressure be there all season? Will they be able to stop the run? 10-6 is certainly a possibility against this schedule and they might still be a better team than LY’s 13 win season.
What say you?
Looks like 8 national or majority of the country games…For some reason ATL always gets another 2 or 3 Steeler games that are not national…I’m committed to streaming TV now so I’ll probably be searching for 4 or 5 games.
On the surface it looks to be a tough schedule, certainly tougher than LY. Week 7 bye is probably a good spot, especially if they start strong. In DIV, every team will probably be better than they were LY, but to what degree is hard to say recordwise...BAL may not do much better than 9-7.
Assuming the health of the team is good all season.
High side 12-4
Low side 10-6
I'm thinking 4-2 in DIV...I think they're capable of the north sweep again, but I have them losing @BAL and @CIN...I can see them losing one to CLE, but I'm projecting a sweep again here...week 1 they should be pumped facing Haley, and barring a big injury they should handle them at home coming off the bye in wk 8.
NFCS
Wk 3, @ TB MNF... I think Winston now realizes he's truly on thin ice and will play his best ball. National game, I think MT will have them ready...don't know if TB has the edge pressure to keep Ben under control. Win
Wk 5, ATL coming to town...the pass rush/DEF will need to be ready...swing game imo..this could go either way, but I'm calling it now. Win
Wk 10 CAR, TNF...road team often struggles in this game...hopefully that holds true again. Win
Wk 16 @ NO…late CBS game, tough place to play, need the DL/edge boys and secondary to have great games…Loss
AFCW
Wk 2…KC, I’m not sure what the Chiefs will be with a 1st yr starter @ QB, but the kid can play…Win.
Wk 12…@ DEN, CBS late the Tebow game continues to haunt me. Some redemption this week. Win
Wk 13…LAC, dangerous team, they have great edge players on DEF and solid QB/weapons on OFC…Tomlin seems to let one get away every year…Loss.
Wk 14…@ OAK…SNF 3rd AFCW game in a row and another trip out west and it precedes the NE game…Loss
Other Key Games
Wk 11 @ JAX…SNF, Time to find out about this team. Can they stop the big RB Fournette? Based on the early ILB issues, I say no, they but they do enough on OFC to win a close one…Win
Wk 15…NE, Another big late CBS game. Nemesis BB/Brady…finally, I think the 3 S DEF works in this game. Win
Doing the math, 2 DIV losses and 3 out of DIV…11-5 is about where I think they will finish if they split ATL and LAC at home. Both are 50/50 type games right now even though they will probably be favorites in both…don’t think they will lose them both, but gut feeling is they will lose one of them.
This team still has some holes of its own. Randy Fichtner takes over the OC role. Will they be more diverse on OFC? Is the secondary finally championship caliber? Will the edge pressure be there all season? Will they be able to stop the run? 10-6 is certainly a possibility against this schedule and they might still be a better team than LY’s 13 win season.
What say you?