Steelers Predictions For The 2023 Season
As the NFL Season finally approaches, we have done it. Rejoice Steelers fans. We made it through a long summer of watching the Pirates start hot and fall flat on their face, the Penguins making some key moves to hopefully make another Stanley Cup run, and now we get to see the Steelers take the field finally. Now for the fun part. Before it all starts, let’s play the crazy game of trying to predict how the season will go.
Record Prediction
Predicting an NFL team’s record is always a nearly impossible thing to do. The NFL season is full of different speedbumps for every team which makes it hard to get to the ultimate goal, a Super Bowl Trophy. The Steelers' schedule falls somewhere between hard and easy. It could be worse, it could be better. Just looking over the schedule, my gut tells me this team will win 10-plus games. Could be 12 if they catch fire. Games against teams like the Raiders, Texans, Rams, Titans, Cardinals, and Colts will be crucial. They have to win those games, but it’s just Pittsburgh tradition to occasionally play down to an opponent’s level.
We know the divisional matchups will be tough. The Steelers play in one of, if not the toughest division in football. If you can find a way to split with everyone in the division (or better), and you take care of your other business, you’ll be in good shape. My record prediction? 11-6.
As stated previously, it’s so tough to predict these things, but those boys in Pittsburgh are up to something. This team feels eerily reminiscent of the 2005 Super Bowl Steelers. A second-year quarterback looking to take the next step, an offense that will walk to whatever beat the run game creates for them, and a star-studded defense that creates havoc and gets turnovers.
Odds & Ends
Last season we saw the Steelers have to keep their head above water while TJ Watt was hurt until the bye week. If Watt stays healthy this season, we could easily see him return to his Defensive Player Of The Year status. Aside from guys like Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, and Alex Highsmith, teams still have to focus on TJ Watt first and foremost. The defense goes as he goes.
We could even see Watt have more gas left in the tank later in the season as the Steelers are four deep at the edge rusher position after signing veteran Markus Golden and the newly drafted Nick Herbig. Herbig has been under Watt’s wing for a couple of years now, picking TJ’s brain while playing the same position at the same school, Wisconsin. Look for Watt to at least get close to the 20-sack mark again.
The offense may be young but could be lethal. wide receiver George Pickens isn’t going to surprise defensive coordinators this season, but it might not matter. If the offensive line can hold up for Pickett and the running backs this season, quarterback Kenny Pickett could be serving up some serious offense in Pittsburgh with all those weapons. Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Allen Robinson, Calvin Austin, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Najee Harris, and Jaylen Warren. That’s going to be a tough task for opposing defenses.
Closing Thoughts
Predictions are hard, and usually not right. But this Steelers team feels special. It feels like it’s going to be a good fall and winter on the south side at Acrisure Stadium. After a good building block season last year, the Steelers will look to build even more in year two of the Kenny Pickett era.
What will fans consider a successful season? Well, it’s Pittsburgh. Anything short of a Sticky Lombardi in February is a failure. But let’s start with getting a playoff win. Get into the dance and anything can happen as the old saying goes. In this stacked AFC, it’s going to take everything the Steelers have to get one of those playoff spots hopefully. Coach Tomlin has the boys ready to go to war. He always does.
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