The Steelers 2017 Schedule in 4 Quarters – Part 3

This season feels like it fits the four quarter model even better than most, because the Steelers have a bye week during Week 9, smack dab in the middle of the season.

It’s like halftime!

We left off with the Steelers sitting at 7-1 at the end of the second quarter, pulling ahead of the pack in the AFC North. At this point, I have the Ravens at 5-3 (with losses to the Raiders and Vikings and wins against the Bears and Dolphins), and the Bengals at 5-3 (with losses to the Steelers and Colts, and wins against the Jaguars and Bills). Cleveland is continuing to pick up the rear at 1-7 with losses to the Texans, Titans, and Vikings, and one win against Jets.

Having a two game lead on both the Bengals and the Ravens would be a nice situation if it works out that way. I think that for the rest of the AFC North, the second half of the season is where the wheels will start to fall off. But having that little cushion isn’t a bad thing.

Third Quarter – @Colts, Titans, Packers, @Bengals

The second half of the season posts some interesting challenges. The first game is a normal Sunday affair at 1:00 pm versus the Colts, but then it goes all to hell. On a short week the Steelers get the Titans on a Thursday night, then they get the mini-bye as they face the Green Bay Packers on a Sunday night. Those games are followed by another long stretch and finishing with a Monday night game against the Bengals.

That’s not an easy schedule, but at least the home/away split is in the Steelers favor: Titans and Green Bay at home with the Bengals and Colts on the road. I’m not going to look it up, but I can’t remember a team being asked to play four primetime games in a row. I’m not saying it never happened, I’m really saying I can’t remember it. However, that’s what the Steelers will be doing when you include the Ravens game, which is the first game of the fourth quarter.

The only good thing about it is that they get a lot of time off between Tennessee and Cincinnati, but they are bookended by short weeks as well. Make no mistake about it, this is a tough stretch of the season.

Week 10 – Indianapolis

To say that the Steelers have owned the Indianapolis Colts over the past three seasons is an understatement. In their last three meetings, the Steelers have outscored the Colts 124 – 51. In those three games, Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for the following:

  • 221 yards, 14/20 3 TD, 0 INT
  • 364 yards, 24/29 4 TD, 0 INT
  • 522 yards, 40/49 6 TD, 0 INT

That’s 1,107 yards, 13 TD’s and 0 INTs.

Admittedly, in two of those games, the Colts were Luck-less – meaning they didn’t have Andrew Luck available. In the one that they did, Ben out-dueled him with that 522 yard, 6 TD masterpiece.

They might get away with that defense in their own division, where Tom Savage appears to be in contention as the starting quarterback for the Texans, and Marcus Mariota and Blake Bortles start for the Titans and Jaguars respectively. But outside of their division, they cannot stop anyone. Is it any wonder the Colts focused on fixing their secondary during the draft? They drafted S Malik Hooker in the first round and CB Quincy Wilson in the second.

While the Colts did address some defensive needs, what the Colts didn’t do was fix their offensive line. That could leave them Luck-less yet again if Andrew Luck continues to take the beating he has over the past three seasons. He’s also starting training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list too. Ouch.

I see no reason to think this ends any differently than the last three meetings. With Martavis back in the fold and in midseason form, it could be another 500 yard game for Ben. The game is being played indoors, so weather won’t be a factor. Oh, and of course, Pittsburgh is coming off of a bye week.

Steelers 49 – Colts 28

Week 11 – Tennessee

The Titans have the look of a potential playoff team. When you first look at this game you worry about the short week, but of course, the Titans also have a short week, and they will be coming off a game against the Bengals. Who knows, maybe Burfict does us a favor and beats them up a little?

There has been a ton of buzz about Marcus Mariotta having a break out year. Of course, he is recovering from a broken fibula, which required the insertion of a plate in his leg. He is expected to be 100% for the season, but you just never know how a player will respond to an injury like that.

DeMarco Murray had a bounce back year with the Titans last season after stinking up the joint in Philadelphia. The also added weapons in the draft, selecting Corey Davis in the first round, and Taywan Taylor in the third. They signed Eric Decker plus Delanie Walker has been a Pro-Bowl caliber tight end for the past two season, so the Titans have some potency on offense.

The also addressed the weakest part of their defense by drafting Adoree’ Jackson in the second round. Their D is going to be somewhat familiar to the Steelers because, as we all know, Dick LeBeau is their Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator.

Honestly, I think the Titans are an up and coming team, but the Steelers right now will be too much for them, especially with them traveling to Heinz Field on a short week. This is a game the Steelers could lose, sandwiched between the Colts and the Packers, but it’s hard to look at it as a trap game because the Steelers have ten days before their next game. That means they really have no need to look ahead (and can’t afford to, having only three days to get ready for the Titans).

The prediction on this game could change based on the way the season goes, but right now, I have to think the Steelers continue their winning ways, locking up their sixth win in a row.

Steelers 35 – Titans 21

Week 12 – Green Bay

Unlike the Colts games, the last three Steelers/Packers matchups have been shootouts, and close. One of those, unfortunately, was in Super Bowl XLV where the Packers won 31-25. In the other two contests, the scores went the Steelers way: 38-31 in 2013 and a classic 37-36 win in 2009.

The Packers will be coming off a game against the Ravens and may be a bit bruised and bloody as a result. On the other hand, the Steelers will have ten days to get ready for the Pack to travel to Heinz Field.

In the draft, the Packers focused on upgrading their defense. Their first four picks were all on the defensive side of the ball: Kevin King – CB, Josh Jones – S, Montravius Adams – DT and Vince Biegel – LB. Like the Steelers, the Packers were drafting late in every round, so it remains to be seen how much and what kind of contributions these rookies will make.

The Packers signed two tight ends in free agency – Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks. Their head coach, Mike McCarthy, has been quoted as saying “I think we have a chance to be a better overall football team”.

Green Bay’s also trying to fix their running back situation. Eddie Lacy left for Seattle, and any other rushers that were auditioned in 2016 also left town. Currently, they’re saying they’ll stick with converted WR Ty Montgomery as the feature back. However, they made some moves in this year’s draft, trading back and using their extra picks not only on defense (as mentioned above) but to select three running backs. We won’t know if any of those players stick as a rotational player, or perhaps a starter, at this time.

The Pack goes as Aaron Rogers goes. When he’s on, they are tough to beat. When he’s not, well, it’s not so hard. In two of the Packers worst losses last year, Rogers was sacked a total of seven times (vs. Titans and vs. Redskins). If the Steelers can apply pressure, they can win this game.

I like the weapons the Steelers have more than I like the ones that Green Bay has. It’s really that simple. I don’t think this is going to be a lopsided blowout, but I think the Steelers will pull it out in a high scoring affair that makes everyone wonder where the defenses (of both teams) went.

Steelers 56 – Packers 45

Week 13 – Cincinnati

The Steelers close out the third quarter of the season with their third of four prime time games, this time against the Bengals in Paul Brown Stadium.

Here is something to chew on – this is the Bengals fiftieth anniversary season: 50 years of futility!

It’s not going to end here.

Still, there is every possibility that this is the last chance the Bengals have at salvaging their season. Not to give anything away, but I expect them to be sitting at 6-5 at this point and the only hope they have of keeping their playoff hopes alive will be to beat the Steelers. Then they probably need to win out.

They aren’t going to do that.

The Steelers are simply the better team and will be on a roll. Yes, the Bengals may not roll over, and much like the first meeting, what I really hope is that the Steelers just come out of the game healthy.

The Steelers end the third quarter by winning another conference game and ending the third quarter 11-1.

Steelers 35 – Bengals 17

Conclusion

One more prime time matchup sits in front of them in the fourth quarter, and a rematch with the hated Patriots as well. The Steelers, in my opinion, should be playing for home field advantage at this point. The division, after dispatching the Bengals, should be locked up (with potential a five-game lead and only four games to play).

Is that too optimistic? Maybe – and I freely admit the Titans and Packers games could go either way. The thing is, if the Steelers start to gel, they will be frightening.

If, if, if, if, if!

Hey, it’s all speculation at this point, but I don’t think this is an unreasonable scenario.

Next: The Fourth Quarter


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