Big Ben will not be playing for the Steelers for their 1st 4 games as he was suspended for personal conduct by the NFL. Can the Steelers survive those 4 games? I don’t think so, but it won’t diminish their season. Byron Leftwich can get the job done, but the Steelers have a tough schedule the 1st few weeks. The success of the Steelers will have to depend on their new starting RB, Rashard Mendenhall, who has a very solid year backing up Willie Parker, even getting more carries than Parker did towards the end of the season. The offensive line is in tatters, but they could possibly pick up Flozell Adams to help out the run game, and their 1st round pick Pouncey can be an immediate impact on the line. With the trade of Santonio Holmes to the jets, Mike Wallace has big shoes to fill, but being a slot player Wallace excelled last season with about 700 plus receiving yards and 6 TDs primarily as a deep threat for the Steelers. He should be a very solid #2 WR behind Hines Ward, who is entering his 50th season in the NFL. He is still tops in the league in catching and toughness, so the Steelers can always count on him to step up to the plate. It will be up to Big Ben and the rest of the offense to try and have a chemistry heading towards the latter part of the season to make a pus for the Wildcard.

The defense honestly does not need to be mentioned, as I do not believe they will let their fans down. With Troy Polamalu coming back healthy, the Steelers defense, with Harrison, Woodley, Timmons, and Farrior, will be a mean ass front 7. Ike Taylor is as good as they come at CB, and the Steelers got back veteran CB Bryant McFadden. Nothing to worry about there.

Prediction – Tough call, as their season can go either way, but with Big Ben at the helm (eventually) the Steelers will always have a chance to finish on top

9-7 3nd place in AFC North, after going on a 5-0 run to end the season