Without one of the best quarterbacks in the league for a majority of the season the Pittsburgh Steelers still finished at 8-8, though the ending left the team wanting more. Even at an advanced age Ben Roethlisberger is the engine behind Pittsburgh’s offense. The decline without him was noticeable last season and if not for a stingy defense the Steelers would have been worse off. Big Ben is back, but can he lead the Steelers to a few more victories coming off elbow surgery?
Pittsburgh Steelers Regular Season Win Total Set at 9.5
Steelers Over 9.5 Wins +118
Steelers Under 9.5 Wins -142
2020 Pittsburgh Steelers Offense Preview
With Roethlisberger going on the shelf after two games, the offense put up historically bad numbers. The Steelers averaged 18.1 points to place 27th in the NFL, their lowest ranking since 1998 when Kordell Stewart was quarterback. They also placed 30th in yards per game.
The ineptitude was never more evident than in the final three games of 2019. Needing one win to clinch a playoff spot, the Steelers lost all three scoring exactly 10 points in each contest. Backup-turned starter Mason Rudolph was benched for Duck Hodges, but neither was able to get the offense going. Roethlisberger had a rough start to the season completing just 56.5 percent of his passes before being sidelined.
The time off was likely a blessing for Big Ben since he’s entering his age 38 season. Eric Ebron and Chase Claypool will help the aerial attack get back on track. Having James Conner healthy will help the ground game that ranked 29th. Conner missed six games with injuries forcing Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels into a more prominent role. No back ran for more than 500 yards.
2020 Pittsburgh Steelers Defense Preview
Missing the playoffs for a second straight season didn’t fall on the top-5 defense. The group allowed only 18.9 points and 304 yards per game while leading the NFL with a whopping 38 takeaways. They were undone by an offense that couldn’t catch its tail. A scary prospect for the AFC North and the entire NFL is that the group remains virtually intact.
Cameron Hayward, who tallied 9.0 sacks and 83 tackles, anchors the line and proved last year he still has something in the tank. Replacing Javon Hargave is a key to sustaining the solid numbers against the run. Outside of that there don’t appear to be many weaknesses. Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt are fierce linebackers and the secondary accounted for 15 of the Steelers 20 picks.
Based on the team’s recent history it’s safe to assume at least eight wins. The Steelers won at least that many in each of the last 16 seasons. They’ve never had a losing record under Mike Tomlin. Defensively they’ve always been solid and that trend continues in 2020.
Getting off to a fast start is always something teams want to do. That didn’t happen last year and the Steelers were playing catch up the rest of the way. There were signs until the end when the wheels came off. The 2020 schedule sets up well at the beginning. A visit to the Giants opens the campaign and the Steelers then play four of their next five at home. And we know how tough they are at Heinz Field. All in all the slate doesn’t look to imposing with matchups against the NFC East and AFC South.
The division is expected to be strong with the Ravens favored to win it all after posting the best record in the NFL. Cleveland should be better, but they remain a big question mark. And the Bengals are rebuilding. With no West Coast games travel isn’t an issue. The toughest stretch comes at the end with three of the final four on the road. However, two of those games are against the Bengals and Browns.
The Final Verdict
The Steelers could have recovered from injuries to a number of players last year. Roethlisberger was a player they couldn’t afford to lose. Still, they won eight games and were knocking at the playoff door. So getting Big Ben back and fresh will change the dynamics of the offense. Score a few more points with a strong defense and special teams and Pittsburgh looks good to cash the over.
NFL Odds: Pittsburgh Steelers Over 9.5 Wins
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