I’m not as optimistic going into this season as I was at this point last year. In 2017, many saw the AFC as a showdown between the NFL Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers; a chance for the Black & Gold to redeem a 2016 season’s conference championship loss to the Death Star that hovers over New England. Last season, I believed that while several players were very important; only one – Ben Roethlisberger – was indispensable for the Steelers to have a shot at a 7th Lombardi Trophy.
I was proven wrong. Last season, the Steelers were very fortunate relative to other NFL teams when it came to injuries but the late season-ending and perhaps career-ending back injury to Ryan Shazier proved insurmountable.