The predictions are starting to roll in now that the 2015 NFL schedule has been released. ESPN.com wasted no time in getting all of their NFL Nation reporters to predict the records for the teams that they cover and you probably won’t be surprised by what Scott Brown forecasted in 2015 for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brown, who has covered the Steelers for several years, has the Black and Gold going 9-7 in 2015.
Brown writes:
All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell will miss up to the first three games of the season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown is unhappy with his contract with three years still left on it. What should concern the Steelers more is they have enough questions at outside linebacker and in their secondary to fill a show of “Jeopardy,” not to mention a demanding schedule in which they open at New England and play five of their last six games against teams that made the playoffs in 2014.
Brown’s prediction is legitimate and well within reason as the Steelers face the toughest schedule in the league based on 2014 results. We’ve already highlighted the Steelers final six games that Brown mentions, which include three games against teams in their division in addition to games against the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.
As far as other ESPN.com predictions go for the teams in the Steelers division, Coley Harvey has the Cincinnati Bengals going 10-6 thanks in part to “a timely bye, a veteran roster and some favorable late-season matchups.”
Jamison Hensley has the Baltimore Ravens going 9-7 as he believes this is “the toughest schedule in coach John Harbaugh’s eight seasons.”
As for the Cleveland Browns, Pat McManamon has them going 4-12 in 2015 due to “the lack of a potent offense.”
