Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Early bold predictions for 2018 season

1. Steelers earn Super Bowl berth, but lose to Vikings

Unfortunately a clean sweep of the 2018-19 postseason won’t be in the cards for the Steelers. They’ll obviously make the playoffs after plowing their way through the AFC North, but at some point, they’re going to meet a foe that’s too imposing to topple.

That foe will be the Minnesota Vikings.

After storming their way through the rest of the AFC and booking their trip to the Super Bowl, the Steelers will face off with the Vikings in Atlanta. It’ll be a great game between two evenly matched teams, pitting two outstanding offenses against two defenses that don’t get the credit they deserve.

However, when the dust settles and final whistle has blown, the Vikings will be ahead on the scoreboard. Roethlisberger, Bell, Brown and the rest of the gang do their best, but Minnesota’s elite defense is too much to overcome. The outstanding front four keeps Bell and Samuels in check, while Xavier Rhodes shuts the door on Brown.

Next: NFL 2018: 20 QBs with best chance at 5,000 yards

It’s not the way Pittsburgh wanted this season to end. However, it solidifies the idea that their championship window is still open. It may not be for much longer with Roethlisberger contemplating retirement and Bell potentially parting via free agency, but it proves this franchise isn’t ready for a rebuild just yet.

As the old saying goes: there’s always next year.