Will the Steelers go 16-0 in the 2020 NFL season?

AFC North

The Steelers home division.  The one they can ill afford to lose games and hope to win, especially with Cleveland and Baltimore only two games behind them and just hoping the Steelers tank. Then again, what’s new in the AFC North, it’s like this every year, it seems. So Let’s look at the remaining schedule.

Cleveland 5-3: Away Week 1

Cleveland could be 14-0 then play the Steelers. As long as Ben Roethlisberger is the quarterback, he just finds a way to win. He is 23-2-1 against the Browns. Hers the rub in this matchup, though. If the Steelers lose one or two games by January but have clinched the AFC North and or Home field advantage in the playoffs, they perhaps sit their starters and take a loss. If the Steelers are 15-0, though, it seems unlikely they would take the loss, not against the Browns. So expect a win, depending on their record. If they sit starters, it could be in this game. They could lose, but only if a loss does not impact the Steelers.

Cincinnati Bengals: 2-5: home, week 10, away, week 15

The worst team in 2019, and they are not much better in 2020. They did draft, Joe Burrows, plus they knocked off the Titans. Face it; things have been nasty with the Bengals in recent years, and if one team could upset the Steelers.

However, like the Browns, Ben Roethlisberger is 23-7 lifetime against the Bengals. The downside Big Ben is 13-2 at Cincinnati but only 10-5 in Pittsburgh. If the Steelers beat Dallas, the Steelers face the Bengals at home. The Bengals will look to play spoiler.  If a loss is brewing, this would be the one. The Steelers should win both games; however, look for the Bengals to upset Pittsburgh at home if the Bengals do win at least one.

Baltimore Ravens 5-2: home, Week 12 Thanksgiving Day

If you thought their first game was a thriller, this game will be huge. The saving grace is it’s a home game. Not that it matters with the Ravens. In 2020 anything can happen. If the Steelers are still unbeaten, the Ravens will be out for revenge.  And would salivate at ending a perfect season for Pittsburgh. Then again, the Steelers should have lost in their first meeting especially losing by ten at the half. Perhaps miracles do happen. At any rate, if Pittsburgh is still unbeaten, they certainly won’t want to lose to the Ravens at home. This could be the best game ever between both clubs. Pittsburgh should win but do not be surprised if the Ravens pull the upset.

Ok, looking at the remaining games, yes, Pittsburgh can lose and probably will. It is 2020 though, it’s a year unlike any other. So if unusual things happen, it can happen here in the NFL. So ok, Pittsburgh goes 16-0. In the 2001 Superbowl, the first one played after 9/11, The Patriots won. It seemed oddly poetic. Now that Brady plays for the Buccaneers, perhaps 2020 is Big Ben’s career season.  To quote Ted Kennedy from his eulogy for Bobby Kennedy, “Some men see things as they are and say why. I Dream of things that never were and say why not.”  So why not the Steelers and why not in 2020.