Better days ahead for Steelers
Halfway through the NFL season there seems to be five good teams, if that many, 20 that are capable of winning any given week and another six or seven really bad teams.
The Steelers find themselves in that second group but the arrow for Pittsburgh is pointed up.
Injuries are an issue for any NFL team. Football is a violent sport, one that lends itself to guys missing games. But few teams have had the impactful injuries (or suspensions) the Steelers were forced to deal with in their first seven games.
Running back Le’Veon Bell, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, defensive end Cam Heyward, linebacker Ryan Shazier, left guard Ramon Foster and right tackle Marcus Gilbert each have missed time.
Tight end Ladarius Green, the team’s big offseason free-agent signing, and linebacker Bud Dupree, its first-round draft pick from last season, have yet to suit up for a game.
Yet, the Steelers head into their bye week at 4-3. The record could have been better. But, with all of those injuries to key players it could have been worse.
The good news for the Steelers is they’ll be a lot more healthy coming next weekend at Baltimore.
If Roethlisberger isn’t back next week, then he’ll most certainly play Nov. 13 against Dallas.
All the other injured bodies will likely be back, including Green, who opened the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Dupree, who has been on injured reserve after having surgery to repair a sports hernia, will soon follow.
And the division has been decidedly mediocre. No matter what happens today, the Steelers head to Baltimore in first place in the AFC North as Baltimore, loser of four straight, and Cincinnati, which had lost four of five before beating Cleveland last week to improve to 3-4, both have underachieved.
Baltimore has games remaining at Dallas, New England, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The Ravens, who have home games remaining against the Steelers and Bengals, are likely toast in terms of winning the AFC North unless they can somehow sweep the Steelers and Bengals. The way they’re playing, that’s not happening.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, plays the Redskins in London today – a tossup game based on the venue – and has to travel to play the Giants, Ravens and Texans. They also have home games against Buffalo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
While Cincinnati’s schedule is easier than that of Baltimore, six teams remaining on the schedule currently have winning records.
The Steelers have three such opponents.
The schedule is set up for Pittsburgh to win 10 or 11 games. And as for that tired, old wives tale about Mike Tomlin-coached teams not beating teams with losing records, know this, the Steelers are 51-20 under Tomlin against teams that finished the season with losing records. That’s a .718 winning percentage.
There’s a big difference between losing to the 1-5 Chiefs last season when Kansas City didn’t lose another game and finished 11-5 than there is losing to, for example, the Browns this season. There are bad teams and then there are the Browns.
The Steelers are not bad, though they have played as such in losses at Philadelphia and Miami. We’ll see what they look like when they get everyone healthy.
Cowboys are coming off a bye and should get Dez Bryant back.
Take Dallas, 24-17
The Raiders stayed in Florida after playing in Jacksonville last week. Do they stay on vacation?
Take Tampa Bay, 26-23
Houston plays terribly on the road and good at home.
Take Houston, 27-20
Vikings will be smarting after their first loss. Chicago has Jay Cutler back at quarterback.
Take Minnesota, 26-13
Bills beat the Tom Brady-less Patriots in New England. Won’t happen again.
Take New England, 31-17
This is a home game for the Bengals. Cornerback Josh Norman will play for Washington but is banged up. Paging A.J. Green.
Take Cincinnati, 23-16
The Indians are in the World Series, in case you hadn’t heard. That’s taking all the attention away from how the Browns stink.
Take the Jets, 26-14
Back-to-back road trips for Seattle, which played an exhausting OT game in Arizona.
Take New Orleans, 20-16
Falcons have lost their last two. I don’t see three in a row.
Take Atlanta, 28-24
Andrew Luck has had 20 years taken off his life playing behind poor offensive lines.
Take Kansas City, 24-20
To beat Denver, you have to run the ball. And San Diego’s run game stinks.
Take Denver, 21-13
For the same reason Seattle loses this week, so does Arizona in this rematch of the NFC Championship.
Take Carolina, 25-18
Last week: 6-8 ATS; 6-7-1 Straight up
Overall: 37-57-3 ATS; 50-48-1 Straight up
Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com