If there is one team in the AFC that can challenge the Patriots, it is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steel city is the only team with enough fire power to keep up with a stacked Patriots team. The issue of course has always been getting past the Pats at this point Steelers Pats isn’t a rivalry because every time Brady has played the Steelers in the Playoffs he has come out victorious.
The Problem isn’t the players and it certainly isn’t Ben Rothlisberger. Big Ben is a testament to what a Qaurterback in this league should play like. Big arm, not afraid to run, smart, and can play through the pain. The Steelers have nothing to worry about with Big Ben, the problem is their back up. Ben will most likely miss at least some time this year and we will have to sit through the suck fest that is Landry Jones. It is an issue the Steelers semi addressed by drafting Joshua Dobbs out of Tennessee. Don’t sleep on Dobbs to steal away the number two job, he was stellar at Tennessee. That being said the Steelers will at some point need to be pro active instead of retro active about finding a successor for Big Ben.
The Steelers Running back core is set. However they certainly are not steady. Le’Veon Bell is one of the top backs in the league, but has always struggled to stay on the field. Half of that isn’t his fault thus far injuries have constantly plagued Bell. Half is though, suspensions for drug violations have become somewhat of an annual occurrence for Bell hopefully he’s kicked the habit this year. So far it looks like Bell will be available for all 16 games, if he can stay healthy, MVP? If he blew up he’d have my vote.
The Steelers are stacked on the O Line. Alejandro Villanueva recently signed a contract extension, that means this dominate line will stay intact for a second straight year in a row.
On the receiving side of the ball Martavis Bryant returns off a full year suspension. While Bryant and his actions and well, being suspended for a year is unacceptable. However, it may have been the best thing that could have happened to this group. It brought fourth even more talent at the receiver position. Eli Rogers became a late down bomb threat with 594 yards last year. Jesse James replaced the irreplaceable, Heath Miller. James racked up an impressive 9 yards per reception. Oh and did we mention, the best receiver in the league is on this team.
This Steelers defense may be the best it has been since the Steel curtain of the eighties. James Harrison is Gods freak of nature and the Devils gift to the QB position. Ryan Shazier is Harrisons Padawan and has taken to his masters habit of blowing up a defense.
So what’s missing? A Tom Brady slip up. That is doubtful though.