Steelers schedule 2023: Game-by-game predictions for upcoming season
By Tommy Jaggi
Week 11: Steelers @ Browns, November 19th, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Part of the problem with giving a quarterback a $230 million, fully-guaranteed contract is that is forces you to cut back in other areas. That's what has happened with the Cleveland Browns. While I have no doubt that Deshaun Watson could make significant strides this year, I don't think Kevin Stefanski's team got a whole lot better this offseason.
The Browns are still feeling the effects of the Watson trade as they were without a first or second-round pick this past April. Cleveland still managed to find some value with later picks, but probably not anyone who is going to make a big difference right away.
Expected to have another suspect defense this year, Kenny Pickett and a beefed-up Steelers offense could make things look relatively easy. Even with this being a road game against a divisional opponent, I have Pittsburgh coming out on top.
Prediction: Win (7-3)
Week 12: Steelers @ Bengals, November 26th, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
When you take a look at all seventeen games on the Pittsburgh Steelers schedule in 2023, there may not be one more challenging than facing the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. Even Mike Tomlin's contest against Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers will come at home with San Francisco traveling from the west coast.
Joe Burrow might be the best pure pocket passer in the game right now thanks to impeccable timing, accuracy, and ball placement. Though the Steelers got the best of Cincy back in Week 1, it did require four interceptions and a blocked field goal in overtime to come out on top. The Bengals didn't add a single offensive player in the draft until Day 3 when they doubled up on wide receivers, by players like Myles Murphy, DJ Turner, and Jordan Battle could help their defense stay strong after the losses they suffered in free agency.
I think the Steelers could keep this one within reach, but holding Burrow in check is simply hard to do. I'm predicting a Pittsburgh loss on the road in Week 12.