The Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 season gets underway tonight and ahead of the game against the New England Patriots kicking off, several of us have attempted to pick each and every game on the team’s schedule in addition to providing some quick analysis of each of the matchups.
In the comments below, feel free to add your record prediction.
Week 1 – Thu, Sep 10 @ 8:30 PM ET – at New England Patriots
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: If the Steelers had Le’Veon Bell, Martavis Bryant and Maurkice Pouncey for this game, I would probably have no problem predicting a win. However, being as all three won’t be in uniform Thursday night, my concern is that the Pittsburgh offense won’t be able to keep pace with the Patriots as the Steelers defense is likely to give up several points in this game.
Prediction: Loss
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: Steelers defense is just far too questionable to think they’re going to do enough to contain Tom Brady. New England’s defense isn’t sterling either but having Devin McCourty in centerfield is better than what the Steelers currently offer.
Prediction: Loss
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: A depleted offense will not be enough to match up with a motivated Tom Brady against a defense still very much learning itself, but the game may be closer than many expect.
Prediction: Loss
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: I don’t think New England will curb stomp Pittsburgh to the ground like some are predicting, but I expect them to win a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair.
Prediction: Loss
Week 2 – Sun, Sep 20 @ 1:00 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers
Dave Bryan:
Analysis:Â The 49ers have had a horrible offeason that included the loss of several players on both sides of the football. Even without Bell and Bryant, the Steelers should be able to ring up the scoreboard in this game.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: 49ers may be the only team who lost more pieces than the Steelers. Traveling to the East Coast for a 1 PM start time doesn’t help them, either.
Prediction:Â Win
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: The 49ers defense has lost quite a few key pieces this offseason, particularly on defense, and the return of NaVorro Bowman will not be enough to prevent Ben Roethlisberger from starting the season off on a losing streak.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: San Francisco’s roster has undergone massive turnover, but the team is so deep that they will still boast plenty of talent. That said, they’ll still be searching for an identity when they come to Pittsburgh in Week 2.
Prediction: Win
Week 3 – Sun, Sep 27 @ 1:00 PM ET – at St. Louis Rams
Dave Bryan:
Analysis:Â That Rams defensive front is scary and there’s a good chance they cause problems in this game. However, I think it might take a few more weeks for the Rams offense to hit their stride and while this game might not feature a lot of scoring, I think the Steelers will ultimately prevail as they’ll have Bell back for this one.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: Rams will get the upset. That defensive line is absurd. Even with Le’Veon Bell back, I’m afraid Cody Wallace is going to get worked over by Aaron Donald.
Prediction:Â Loss
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: Nick Foles and a less than compelling offense will not stand up to the Steelers’ offensive prowess in Le’Veon Bell’s return. Aaron Donald will get the best of the running game up the middle, but Bell’s outside skills and receiving ability will be vital.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: I know St. Louis’ front four is formidable, but outside of that there really is no reason why they win this game. Le’Veon Bell will be back and Nick Foles doesn’t exactly inspire fear under center, but it won’t matter. Pittsburgh loses a game or two like this every year, I don’t expect that to change this quickly.
Prediction: Loss
Week 4 – Thu, Oct 1 @ 8:25 PM ET – Baltimore Ravens
Dave Bryan:
Analysis:Â I’m not a big believer in the Ravens offense this year as a whole, but if they’re able to run that outside zone as successful as they did last year, that will help their cause while their young weapons develop. These meetings are usually close and I think the Ravens defensive front might be the difference on a short week.
Prediction:Â Loss
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: These two rivals have split wins over the last three seasons. In the last two, the home team has always won. We’ll keep with that trend here.
Prediction:Â Win
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: The Ravens offense continues to try to piece itself together with Breshad Perriman still learning the ropes. The front seven will better contend against the outside zone by exploiting one-gapping opportunities to grab a must-win early season game, knowing how difficult the schedule gets later in the year.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: Baltimore always presents a tough test for Pittsburgh, and this game should be no different. Both teams have suspect secondaries and young defensive fronts, but even without Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh has far more weapons.
Prediction: Win
Week 5 – Mon, Oct 12 @ 8:30 PM ET – at San Diego Chargers
Dave Bryan:
Analysis:Â Martavis Bryant will be back for this tough West Coast game and they certainly will need him. Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen are likely to put up a good amount points in this game, but I still expect the Steelers come out with a close win.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: Antonio Gates is back for San Diego but the Steelers welcome back Martavis Bryant, who plays with an edge and has a huge day.
Prediction:Â Win
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: The Chargers get back Antonio Gates, but the Steelers get back Martavis Bryant. Pittsburgh grabs a rare west coast victory with an offense that is finally at full strength at the skill positions.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: The Chargers offense will move the ball at will at home, as both teams get top targets back in their lineups in Antonio Gates for San Diego and Bryant for Pittsburgh. This one will be a shootout, but Pittsburgh will find a way to sneak it out late.
Prediction: Win
Week 6 – Sun, Oct 18 @ 1:00 PM ET – Arizona Cardinals
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell might have a few problems getting their yards in this game. additionally, Bruce Arians loves stretching the field. The Cardinals offensives line appears to be improved and as long as Carson Palmer is healthy, they will certainly make this game a close one.
Prediction:Â Loss
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: Cardinals run game just isn’t as strong as the Steelers. Steelers must keep John Brown in front of them. He’s a gamebreaker.
Prediction:Â Win
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians revel in a victory over the Steelers as the passing game proves too much for a shaky secondary and the front seven struggles to contain Bruce Ellington. Tackling discipline ends up being a factor in this one.
Prediction:Â Loss
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: The Cardinals are like the Steelers little brother, except far better defensively and fairly scary offensively as well. Bruce Arians will be well-prepared for this matchup, and you better believe he’ll have his boys motivated to play.
Prediction: Loss
Week 7 – Sun, Oct 25 @ 1:00 PM ET – at Kansas City Chiefs
Dave Bryan:
Analysis:Â While the Chiefs defense scares me, their offense doesn’t. As long as Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t take too big of beating from Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, I think the Steelers will win this one.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: Win streak has to end at some point. Steelers kept Justin Houston in check last year but it won’t happen again. Chiefs upgraded their passing game by adding Jeremy Maclin and hopefully getting Travis Kelce even more involved.
Prediction:Â Loss
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: The Chiefs got Alex Smith Jeremy Maclin, and Justin Houston will be difficult to contain, but Pittsburgh goes into Kansas City and leaves with a victory for the second consecutive season as the defense begins to come together.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: Arrowhead is still a tough place to play, and the Chiefs are more talented than they were last year. The Steelers offensive line will get a major test against a ferocious Kansas City front seven that is stacked with pass rushers, while the defense could have their hands full stopping Jamaal Charles, Travis Kelce and co.
Prediction: Loss
Week 8 – Sun, Nov 1 @ 1:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: I don’t think the Bengals have solved their defensive problems quite yet and they might just struggle to get pressure and sacks again for a second straight season. The Steelers offense should be able to do enough to win this at home.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis:Â Steelers have only lost at home against the Bengals once since 2010.
Prediction:Â Win
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: The Bengals’ power running game leads to vertical opportunities later in the game as Cincinnati avenges what should have been another division-winning season last year if not for a pair of defeats at the hands of the Steelers.
Prediction:Â Loss
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: Nothing to cure a two-game losing skid like a visit from the Cincinnati Bengals, who Ben Roethlisberger and co. typically devour at home.
Prediction: Win
Week 9 – Sun, Nov 8 @ 1:00 PM ET – Oakland Raiders
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: The Steelers seem to always have problems with the Raiders but thankfully they’ll play them at home this season. This is a game that they better not lose. If they do, we might be circling this one as being the reason they don’t make the playoffs. As long as they don’t turn the ball over, they should win easily.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: This is always how it goes, isn’t it? Raiders stomp on Steelers’ fans hearts yet again.
Prediction:Â Loss
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: Pittsburgh comes off a disappointing loss motivated not to play down to the Raiders’ level, who are still struggling in spite of the acquisition of some impressive recent talent over the past two drafts on both sides of the ball.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: Pittsburgh always loses against the Raiders, no matter how pitiful a team Oakland fields each year. This season the result changes, but the process may still be extremely ugly.
Prediction: Win
Week 10 – Sun, Nov 15 @ 1:00 PM ET – Cleveland Browns
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: The road to the playoffs goes through the division and if the Steelers split with the Browns this year, it will be very disappointing. Antonio Brown always seems to have his way with Joe Haden and I expect that trend to continue in this game. Besides, the Browns wide receivers still don’t scare me and they lost their tight end during the offseason to free agency.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: Steelers always lose a couple you know they shouldn’t. And Cleveland always plays them tough.
Prediction:Â Loss
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: The Browns caught lightning in a bottle last season with their offense, but they will struggle to repeat it with a makeshift receiving corps acquire via free agency and a stable of running backs who are successful largely because of their offensive line.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: The Browns don’t get Pittsburgh until Week 10 this year, and who knows who will be quarterbacking Cleveland’s ship. Here’s guessing it won’t matter.
Prediction: Win
Week 12 – Sun, Nov 29 @ 4:25 PM ET – at Seattle Seahawks
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: If this game were in Heinz Field, I’d probably take the Steelers in a close one. They’re bound to lose at least one of their West Coast games this year and this one figures to be it. The Seahawks are well-coached on both sides of the football and I’m afraid that running back Marshawn Lynch might go full-on Beast Mode in this one as well.
Prediction:Â Loss
Alex Kozora:
Analysis:Â Traveling to Seattle against that secondary that has to have Kam Chancellor back at that point? Tough environment to win in.
Prediction:Â Loss
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: his showdown with Seattle proves to be a relatively high-scoring affair, with the two-time consecutive NFC champions coming out on top with an improved offense after the acquisitions of Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett, the latter a weapon on both offense and special teams.
Prediction:Â Loss
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: I think Pittsburgh’s defense will actually have some success against Seattle (I have no real basis for this whatsoever, but their offense will sputter on the road against a top-notch defense. Steelers drop a close one.
Prediction: Loss
Week 13 – Sun, Dec 6 @ 8:30 PM ET – Indianapolis Colts
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: The Steelers got the best of the Colts last year in a shoot-out as Roethlisberger was unstoppable. Andrew Luck has the ability and weapons to make this game another high-scoring affair. I think he’ll revenge last year’s loss on a Sunday night in Pittsburgh.
Prediction:Â Loss
Alex Kozora:
Analysis:Â Big matchup on Sunday Night Football. Andrew Luck is an amazing quarterback but that offensive line is an absolute mess. James Harrison records 2.5 sacks that day.
Prediction:Â Win
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: It took a record-setting performance for the Steelers to come out on top over the Colts last season, but Andrew Luck plays error-free this time. In that last game, he threw one interception that was returned for a touchdown and another that took away a touchdown in the end zone.
Prediction:Â Loss
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: The Colts seek revenge after getting absolutely embarrassed last year at Heinz Field, and their roster is well-stacked enough to turn the tables. The season could hinge on this game, but right now I think Pittsburgh loses a close one.
Prediction: Loss
Week 14 – Sun, Dec 13 @ 1:00 PM ET – at Cincinnati Bengals
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: No split this year. Andy Dalton just doesn’t scare me and as I previously mentioned, I think the Bengals defense will struggle quite a bit this year. I think Bryant, Bell and Brown will all have good games in this road tilt.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis:Â Another split with an AFC North foe.
Prediction:Â Loss
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: The Steelers come back and even up the season series with their division rivals as pressure mounts to make a playoff push late in the year and coming off a pair of critical losses.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: I really think the Bengals will struggle this year as Andy Dalton starts to come apart at the seams. Pittsburgh will need a win badly here, and even on the road they’ll hand the Bengals another loss.
Prediction: Win
Week 15 – Sun, Dec 20 @ 4:25 PM ET – Denver Broncos
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: I realize Peyton Manning might be on his last leg, but as long as his brain still works and he has a halfway decent offensive line and running game, he can win the tough road games. I also think the Broncos defense will be improved this year. This one figures to be close but I have the Steelers losing by a missed two-point conversion.
Prediction: Loss
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: Peyton Manning isn’t the intimidator he once was. Antonio Brown vs Chris Harris is going to be a lot of fun to watch. AB catches a long reception to set up Josh Scobee’s game-winning field goal as time expires.
Prediction:Â Win
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: Emmanuel Sanders lives to regret his comments about the differences between Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning as the former proves that he is now clearly the better quarterback from a physical standpoint, even against an impressive cornerback tandem and pass rush.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: Peyton Manning finally doesn’t scare me anymore, but Denver still has a host of weapons and a very talented defense. The Steelers offensive line will need to be at their very best in this one, but I think Roethlisberger comes out firing.
Prediction: Win
Week 16 – Sun, Dec 27 @ 8:30 PM ET – at Baltimore Ravens
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: This game might very well decide the AFC North. These two teams are destined to split this year and being as I have the Ravens winning the first meeting, I’ll give this one to the Steelers on the road. By this point of the season, I think Justin Forsett might very well be on a downturn. I just don’t see him putting up the numbers he had last season.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: Would love to see the Steelers end the season on a hot streak but running into Baltimore doesn’t lend itself to an easy win. Ravens get theirs at home.
Prediction:Â Loss
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis: The Ravens start to get things together late and put up a major roadblock in the Steelers’ hopes of securing a second consecutive division title.
Prediction:Â Loss
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: Could the season come down to this game? Depending on how Cincinnati does this year, this game could be playoffs or bust for both teams. I want to give it to Pittsburgh, but Roethlisberger hasn’t won in Baltimore since 2010, and the Steelers haven’t swept the Ravens since 2008.
Prediction: Loss
Week 17 – Sun, Jan 3 @ 1:00 PM ET – at Cleveland Browns
Dave Bryan:
Analysis: The Steelers offense should just be too string for the Browns defense this season. I’m also not a huge believer in Browns quarterback Josh McCown. Who knows, Johnny Manziel might even be the starter by the time this game rolls around. Steelers roll.
Prediction:Â Win
Alex Kozora:
Analysis: Since 2000, the Steelers have played the Browns in Week 17 six times. They’ve never lost.
Prediction:Â Win
Matthew Marczi:
Analysis:Â Pittsburgh squeaks through the season finale to get to double-digit wins once again and puts itself in a chance to reach the postseason.
Prediction:Â Win
Jon Ledyard:
Analysis: I think this game will be a stomping by the Steelers, but Pittsburgh won’t control their own destiny with the result. Yinzers everywhere will lose their minds waiting for the results of other games. It’ll be great.
Prediction: Win
Steelers 2015 Season Final Record Recap:
Dave Bryan: 10-6
Alex Kozora: 8-8
Matthew Marczi: 10-6
Jon Ledyard: 9-7
