Pittsburgh Steelers: Game predictions for remainder of 2019 season

Week 16 vs. New York Jets

Now that the Jets have Sam Darnold back, we can finally see what kind of team they are. Don’t get me wrong, I still think they’ll be the same old Jets, but they could challenge an injured Steelers team. New York did drop the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but we need to see a couple more weeks of Darnold before declaring the Jets revived.

Overall, the Steelers and Jets are fairly evenly matched in terms of talent. Perhaps Pittsburgh is younger and that’s what distinguishes the teams from each other. That and New York’s offensive line is worse than Pittsburgh’s. I’m looking forward to Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt feasting in New York’s backfield.

Predicted outcome: Win

Week 17 vs. Baltimore Ravens

Pittsburgh’s first matchup against Baltimore this season saw the Steelers lose Mason Rudolph to a brutal hit and the game went to overtime. The Ravens might figure out their identity and get better as they near the playoffs, but Baltimore also might not be playing for anything in Week 17. The Steelers have rested their starters during the final week in the past.

Even if the Ravens play their starters, the Steelers have already proven they are capable of competing for the entire game. I don’t think the Ravens will take both games for Pittsburgh this season.

Predicted outcome: Win

This exercise has the Steelers finishing the season with an 8-8 record. If only the team was healthy this year. Imagine if the team from last year or two years ago played this schedule. That would easily be a ten to twelve-win season. However, those golden days are past. Right now, Pittsburgh is being held back by a struggling run game and sub-professional quarterback play.