Behind the Steel Curtain
The Pittsburgh Steelers are exactly where I expected them to be at the bye week, sitting with a 3-1 record.
After the schedule release in May, I analyzed the Steelers’ schedule game by game to make my record prediction for the 2025 season, and I arrived at 10-7. The week of the season starting, I predicted every game on the NFL schedule and had the Steelers winning one more game at 11-6.
With one month of the season in the books, this is roughly the time when we start getting a good feel for who is actually good, who is bad, and who is somewhere in the middle. With that said, here are my quarter-season updated game-by-game picks.
The Browns’ defense is arguably the best in the league, but their offense is a tumultuous mess. It will be a low-scoring win.
Prediction: Steelers 17, Browns 9 (4-1)
The Steelers are far better than the Bengals, but they are awful on Thursday nights. They’ve lost three of their last four Thursday games, and the one victory was a close, eek-it-out win over Will Levis. They should win, but they won’t.
Prediction: Bengals 23, Steelers 20 (4-2)
Green Bay is two blocked kicks away from being 4-0. Jordan Love is a stud, as is Micah Parsons, who will be a handful. It will be close, but Green Bay wins.
Prediction: Packers 27, Steelers 23 (4-3)
The Colts have had the Steelers’ number over the last two seasons, but both games were played in Indianapolis. The Steelers get a much-needed win to stop a two-game skid.
Prediction: Steelers 24, Colts 17 (5-3)
The Chargers’ offensive line is decimated, resulting in Justin Herbert being pressured on over 50 percent of his dropbacks in Weeks 3 and 4. The Steelers’ defense is improving, and T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig should have big days in a West Coast win.
Prediction: Steelers 26, Chargers 18 (6-3)
The Steelers get their win back against the Bengals at home in a more dominant win.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Bengals 16 (7-3)
The last time the Steelers played in Chicago, they lost to Mike Glennon. I would like to think they avoid that same fate in 2025, and Aaron Rodgers gets one last win against the franchise he has owned for 20 years.
Prediction: Steelers 27, Bears 17 (8-3)
The Steelers’ four-game winning streak comes to an end against the reigning MVP Josh Allen and the Bills.
Prediction: Bills 33, Steelers 24 (8-4)
The Ravens are in a tailspin at the time of writing, and their defense is legitimately the worst in the NFL. The Steelers walk into Baltimore and leave with a win.
**Prediction:...
