Bold Predictions for the Steelers second half of 2017
After the first half of the season, the Steelers find themselves atop the AFC North with a 6-2 record and ready to continue their winning ways into the second half of the season. I have them finishing 12-4, winning the division and getting a first round bye.
I think the Patriots will be the #1 seed; I project a Pats victory over the black and gold in December but fully believe the Steelers can and will return the favor in the AFC Championship game to advance to the Super Bowl.
A few other predictions I have for the remainder of the season are as follows.
Le’Veon Bell will amass 2,000 total scrimmage yards.
Bell currently has a little less than 1,000 yards from scrimmage and I think he’ll be a workhorse in the second half, enabling him to reach 2,000 for the year.
Antonio Brown will not get 100 catches this year.
This is a bit of a long shot as he already has 57 but I think JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant will become bigger parts of the offense in the second half of the season and will take some of Brown’s balls away. A side prediction of this is Brown will have a sideline blow up again.
Ben Roethlisberger will only throw four more interceptions the rest of the regular season.
He has nine through the first eight games but will take care of the ball far more effectively the rest of the way.
Ben Roethlisberger will retire after the season.
Enough said.
Cam Heyward will finish with 10 sacks.
He is halfway there and I think he’ll get five more along the way.
Vince Williams will lead the team in tackles.
He’s 22 behind Ryan Shazier at the halfway point but I see a big second half coming from Williams.
Artie Burns will not have an interception this year.
He’s been a great cover corner so far but no interceptions to show for it. I think that will stay the same in the second half.
The pass defense will finish outside of the top 10.
They have been a top-level pass defense this season but I expect that to come back down to earth in the second half.
The offense will score 30 points three times in the next eight games.
They are ready to explode and will do so in the second half; starting with their first game against the Colts this coming Sunday.
The Steelers will hoist Lombardi number seven.
Yeah, that’s right. I think they’re going to do it this year.
Conclusion
No matter which way the season goes down the stretch, we will all be in for a good ride. This team has talent, skill and the will to win every game on their schedule. They are heavy favorites to win the division, a very solid bet to get a bye and have good chance at advancing to and winning the Super Bowl. The way I see it right now, the two teams that can derail this plan are the Patriots and ultimately the Eagles, if they were to face off. Until then, the Steelers have work to do and we will have to see how it all unfolds.
