2007 Pittsburgh Steelers Season Projections

Every single team in the NFL has a chance to win the superbowl this year. Some teams may be favored more to do it, while for other teams it may just seem like hope. However, year in and year out in the NFL, there is a team that rises from no where to be a serious contender. The 2006 New Orleans Saints are a perfect example.

At the beginning of the season, it is always interesting to sit down with the schedule and mark up the wins and losses that you project for your team. I am going to try a bit of a different theory in breaking down the 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead of giving a win-loss projection, I am going to split the games into one of four categories. As the season progresses, it will be easy to see whether the Steelers are going to exceed expectations or fall below them. Bear with me, as I explain below.

Group #1: Games that should easily be won

This is the four easiest games (on paper). The Steelers should win all of these games. If they drop one of these games, they need to make it up by winning an unexpected game. For the 2007 Steelers, I have these games in this group:

• vs. Buffalo
• vs. Cleveland
• vs. Miami
• vs. Jacksonville.

All at home and against teams that are not projected to do much this year.

Group #2: Games that are winnable, but may be tough

This is the games that the Steelers should win, but it may involve a tough game. If your team wins 3 or 4 of these games, it could mean something special. My Group #2 teams for the Steelers:

• At Cleveland
• vs. San Fransisco
• At Arizona
• vs. Cincinnati

Included in this list are some sub-par teams away, as well as some good, but not spectacular teams at home.
Group #3: Games that may be a loss, but will be competitive

This is the transitional group. If the team does well with the 8 games it should win and can take 2 out of this group, then the play-offs are becoming a possibility. For the 2007 Steelers, this group includes:

• vs. Seattle
• vs. Baltimore
• At New York Jets
• At St. Louis

These include some very good teams at home, as well as some good teams on the road.

Group #4: Games that appear to be a loss

This are the elite matchups for the team. If the team is able to win 7-8 of the winnable games, split on the group 3 games and split on the group 4 games, they would have to be considered a contender. For the 2007 Steelers, these are the group 4 games:

• At Denver
• At Cincinatti
• At New England
• At Baltimore

All away games against play-off bound teams.

Using this guideline, I will keep a continued watch on the play-off chances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.