Pittsburgh Steelers

Despite losing three of their last four games last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers held off the Cleveland Browns to win their third AFC North title in the last six years. But Pittsburgh’s first season under new head coach Mike Tomlin came to an end with a rare home playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. And while Pittsburgh won 10 games, they only went 1-2 vs. teams that eventually made the playoffs.

The Steelers ranked 17^th in total offense last year at 327 YPG, but with help from 1,300 yards in 14 games from RB Willie Parker, ranked third in rushing at 136 YPG. On the other side of the ball, Pittsburgh led the NFL in total defense at 266 YPG, and ranked third against the run at 90 YPG.

The Black and Gold also led the league in average time-of-possession at a healthy +6:56 per game, and ranked third in total yardage at +61 YPG. And yet the Steelers could only go 8-8 against the spread on the NFL betting lines. The totals went a somewhat surprising 10-6, despite Pittsburgh games averaging a fairly normal 41 PPG.

QB Ben Roethlisberger compiled a career-best 32/11 TD/INT ratio last season, and is now 39-16 as an NFL starter. And the Steelers went offensive with their first two picks in the draft, getting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall in the first round and 6-foot-4 WR Limas Sweed out of Texas in the second round. Pittsburgh suffered what could be a key loss on the O line, though, when G Alan Faneca signed with the Jets over the offseason.

The defense played very well for most of last year, but after the injury bug bit a few players it got clipped for more than 380 yards and 28 points per game over the last quarter of the season. Much of the success of that defensive unit this season may depend upon the health of sparkplug safety Troy Polamalu, who struggled with knee and rib injuries last year. And he hadn't even begun practicing halfway through this preseason.

Pittsburgh will again be a solid, all-around team. But there are question marks along the offensive line, and in the defensive secondary. And the Steelers will play, according to last year's W/L records, the toughest schedule in the league this season. This team is not a powerhouse; however, they're probably still the best team in the North, and remain a solid sports betting proposition.