It’s not always a bad thing being wrong. For example, many of my Steelers vs. Panthers predictions for the previous week’s Thursday Night Football game missed the mark: many of them in a good way!

Here’s a recap of my somewhat educated guesses from that game, along with what really happened.

• Steelers have the best Color Rush jerseys
  • No argument here!
• Conner eclipses another 125+ yards from scrimmage
  • Conner ended up leaving the game at times Thursday and only amassed 73 all-purpose yards.
• Steelers just miss scoring 30 points
  • Well… this is what I initially said, so I wasn’t entirely in the wrong!
    I only see 30+ possible if there’s a defensive touchdown.
    Does it still count? I have to lean with a glass half full, because, after all, this is my column! (Right?)
• Steelers win on Thursday Night Football
  • Yup!
• Defense holds Panthers under 20 points
  • Oh… almost had it. The Panthers hit 21. This is fairly close when I’m throwing darts, so I’ll take it.
• Vance McDonald 100-yard game
  • Four catches for 44 yards… still waiting on this one and it’s going to happen!
• 1-and-1 for Cam Newton: One pick. One sack.
  • I nailed the lone interceptions, but Cam ended up going down five times: a pleasant surprise if I must say so.
• Greg Olsen gets the Panthers lone touchdown
  • He caught four passes for 40 yards, but never found the endzone, as the Panthers score three TDs on the evening.
• I don’t have a pulse on Christian McCaffrey: he could have a big game and Carolina could still struggle to win.
  • Bingo! Nailed this one and then some. The second-year back had 138 yards from scrimmage and scored all three of Carolina’s touchdowns… but they were never in this game after the first series.

I must say, even in being somewhat wrong, those predictions were pretty darn good. Now I must move on to the Steelers next opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars: a team that not once, but twice, embarrassed the Black and Gold in Pittsburgh last season.

This time the game will be on the road, and I see a better fortune for the Steelers this coming Sunday. Here are my bold predictions.

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Fournette under 100

Often banged up and injured, Leonard Fournette returned to the lineup last weekend. He had a paltry 2.2 yards-per-carry for a total of 53 yards on 24 rushes. He found the endzone twice, once running the ball and also as a receiver, where he added five catches for 56 yards.

The dink and dunk Jaguars offense might see Fournette get over 100 yards like McCaffrey did last week for the Panthers, but I don’t see this second-year running back topping the century mark against a rejuvenated Steelers defense.

Steelers score 30+

The Steelers have scored 30 or more in five of their nine games this season. Those games where they’ve failed to hit 30 points have all been against AFC North opponents too.

That’s why I feel the Jaguars, despite their inflated defensive stats, will struggle to contain James Conner, Ben Roethlisberger, and the rest of the Steelers offense. Look for another 30-plus showing on Sunday from the Steelers.

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Ben sacks over/under 2

I’ll still give some respect to the Jags D and say Ben might get hit once or twice. Their secondary is strong and may force Roethlisberger into holding the ball longer to make plays. That usually doesn’t end well for Big Ben.

Regardless, the Steelers offensive line has been so darn good, it’s hard to imagine them allowing more than two sacks against anyone.

Steelers defense gets five or more sacks

Here’s a bolder prediction for you folks: the Steelers D will be unleashed on the pitiful Jaguars offense, and Blake Bortles will be decimated to the tune of at least five sacks.

With the Jags being a run-heavy offense relying on entirely short passes, they won’t be able to back the Steelers front seven away from the line, allowing the floodgates to open.

Jaguars held under 18

The Jaguars have only scored 30-plus twice this season: against the New England Patriots (Week 2) and New York Jets (Week 4). Since, they’ve mostly struggled to score double-digits, failing to score at least ten points in three games this season.

They may have had 26 against division opponent Indianapolis last Sunday, but that was following a bye. Look for the Steelers to put the clamps down and hold Jacksonville in the range of 14-17 points.

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Vance finally hits 100

Vance McDonald caught 10 passes for 112 yards against Jacksonville during the playoffs in January. He’s clearly part of the Steelers game plan going forward and should create mismatches against the Jaguars linebackers.

I believe the “Mack Truck” finally hits the hundred mark on Sunday, for the first time this season. (And the first time a tight end has done so since Heath Miller over five years ago.)

Zero picks

Jalen Ramsey has a big mouth, but Big Ben’s actions will speak louder than his words.

Look for another nearly flawless game from the Steelers franchise QB.

Jalen Ramsey attempts to start a fight

Frustration of getting beaten by a team you feel pretty cocky toward beating twice in 2017 will set in. Watch for Ramsey to try to get under the skin of several Steelers.

If I had to guess, provided he doesn’t roam around the secondary following Antonio Brown (which he didn’t in the previous encounter) keep a close eye on Ramsey trying to goad JuJu Smith-Schuster into some extracurricular activities.