Still Curtain
FanSided

Pittsburgh Steelers: 6 musts for making Super Bowl LIII – Part II

By Daryl Jaquette

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Steelers won 27-23 against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Steelers won 27-23 against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Steelers won 27-23 against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Steelers won 27-23 against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /

The Pittsburgh Steelers need all the factors to click if they want to bring home Super Bowl number seven.

Presuming the first three factors discussed in Part I occur [Ben Roethlisberger plays at least 14 games (and is healthy for the playoffs); the defense is stout against the run; and PK Chris Boswell continues his stellar play], the Pittsburgh Steelers will still need to stay healthy, get lucky and believe in “team” in order to reach Super Bowl 53.

Staying healthy

The Pittsburgh Steelers must keep key contributors like Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey, Cam Heyward, Artie Burns and Chris Boswell on the field for the entire season.

The “next man up” philosophy only goes so far. Eventually, injuries pile up and can’t be overcome. Losing the franchise QB, or All Pro WR, or All Pro OL have consequences of varying degrees. For example, the team might overcome the loss of Antonio Brown or David DeCastro, if the remaining members of their respective units stayed healthy. But, losing Big Ben would ruin any Super Bowl Run.

Remember the 2013 season, when Pouncey went down in the first game and the team finished 8-8. Or last year’s playoff game, when the Jacksonville Jaguars exposed the loss of Ryan Shazier.

Home/Steelers News