steelers this season?

[tjs]

who else thinks that they will not have a good year at all this year

[duus]

I think it ... I hope it ... I expect it. Pissburghers.

[James_Brooks21]

I think it ... I hope it ... I expect it. Pissburghers.

Pittsburgh is going to be tough, they had some bad luck this year and still was only one game from making the playoffs. I hate them but I don't underestimate them at all, the Bengals have virtually the same team from last year and the Steelers have virtually the same team you saw the dogfights we were in with them last year. Plus a big key to both of those games for the Bengals was Chris Henry, I pretty much can guarantee that he will be missing at least one of those Pittsburgh games. Willie Parker looked like a Hall Of Famer against the Bengals last year, we need to get our stuff together or we will be looking up at Pittsburgh.

[CarsonCity]

I think it ... I hope it ... I expect it. Pissburghers.

Pittsburgh is going to be tough, they had some bad luck this year and still was only one game from making the playoffs. I hate them but I don't underestimate them at all, the Bengals have virtually the same team from last year and the Steelers have virtually the same team you saw the dogfights we were in with them last year. Plus a big key to both of those games for the Bengals was Chris Henry, I pretty much can guarantee that he will be missing at least one of those Pittsburgh games. Willie Parker looked like a Hall Of Famer against the Bengals last year, we need to get our stuff together or we will be looking up at Pittsburgh.

The Steelers have a brand new head coach and a brand new Offensive Coordinator. I would imagine the Bengals to be quite a different team if Marvin Lewis retired and Bob Bratkowski took a HC job somewhere else.

However, I do agree they'll still be a tough team. I wouldn't go so far as to say they got unlucky last year, but if their quarterback didn't play like he was drunk half the time, they probably would've made the playoffs.

[jjakq27]

Losing Bettis was a big blow to them. And Cowher's status might have affected them too. Ben's issues were huge and took about half a season to recover.

I look for them to contend but I don't know that the new coach will have the same impact or staying power as Cowher. And Pittsburgh gave Cowher a hard time and he was one of their own. Somehow I don't expect the new guy to get very much slack from them.

[ArmyBengal]

Losing Porter didn't help their cause and if they don't address the secondary, they are screwed. New coach as well, don't look for much. Then again, I didn't see the Ravens coming last year either...

WHODEY !!!

[Stripes]

I expect them to be the Bengals' chief competition in the AFC North. Yes, I'm completely ignoring the Baltimore Ravens. The only thing I think may hold them back is the new coaching staff, but I doubt it. Roethlisberger will be back on his game, and they'll be back on theirs in turn.

[jackbauer]

I think way too many people are looking over the Browns....I hate to say it but they have been making some really good pickups...and they werent a horrible team last year either....watch out for the Brownies...they might surprise someone this year

[Whur CHad At?]

I think way too many people are looking over the Browns....I hate to say it but they have been making some really good pickups...and they werent a horrible team last year either....watch out for the Brownies...they might surprise someone this year

They are the Browns...have of them will be hurt before the season starts. I only see Steiny being their Pro Bowler

[SteelerFan87]

Wow, I am pleasantly surprised that this thread hasn't consisted of "teh steelers suck!!111!! I hate them and the bengals will pwn their n00b asses!!!1111!!" Very nice, Bengals fans. Very nice.

Anyway, to address a few things:

1. I don't think our secondary will be too much of a problem. Ike had an off year, Deshea is pretty dependable, and McFadden will be a beast. And we may be the deepest team in the league at the Safety position, where Polamalu was hurt alot and Anthony Smith looks like he'll be a stud.

2. Yeah losing Porter hurts. I hope James Harrison can step up AND stay healthy, and drafting a good OLB will be crucial.

3. I agree with TDB that the Ravens will go back to the cellar with the New Browns. They're old, and they've lost alot more people than they've added.

4. I really can't speculate on how Tomlin will do, because I have nothing to base it on other than a few interviews of him I've seen. But, he seems to be a more stoic version of Bill Cowher in alot of ways. And I think a big problem that lead to that horrible start last year was that we had accomplished our goal, won a SB, and just weren't as hungry. A new coach WILL definitely be hungry.

5. The thing that worries me the most is possibly losing Alan Faneca next year. If we don't have the next Faneca ready to step in IMMEDIATELY, I predict at least 1 or 2 losing seasons once he leaves, just like we had after Justin Strelzyck left.

[redsbengalsbucks]

More than likely another step back for the Steelers, to many losses and not enough replacement(especially at the coaching level)

I highly doubt that they will be much better or worse than they were last season and will most likely be a force in the AFCN again.

I totally agree with the Ravens taking a major step back, and think the Browns maybe good enough to cause a few problems in the division.

To me it looks as if only the Browns have improved from last season, the Steelers and the Bengals both will go as far as injuries allow them to.

[HoosierCat]

As long as Toothlessberger can stay out of the hospital, the Steelers should be better. The Ravens, who knows? I keep waiting for them to collapse and it never seems to happen. The Browns will be better. In short, the Bengals have their work cut out for them.