Anticipation in Steeler Nation has rebounded and is now at a fever pitch for the 2019 Steelers’ season. If you're like me, you can't wait for the schedule to come out every April and analyze the matchups. In that spirit, BTSC presents each upcoming contest during the new season and predicts the victor. To me, a repeat of last year’s 9-6-1 record would be a major letdown. On the other hand, there's a growing sentiment that this could be the year after all of the disharmony that had poisoned the landscape the last couple of seasons.

Let's take a look at the projections.

Week 1

at New England Patriots

Sunday 9/8/2019 8:20 PM EDT (NBC)

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

Key Additions: DL Michael Bennett, TE Michael Roberts, LB Jamie Collins, TE Ben Watson, WR Dontrelle Inman, WR N’Keal Harry, DB JoeJuan Williams, LB Chase Winovich, Yodny Cajuste, WR Demaryius Thomas, DL John Simon, DE Terrance Brooks, DL Mike Pennel

Significant Departures: TE Rob Gronkowski, TE Dwayne Allen, OL Jared Veldheer, TE Jacob Hollister, DE Adrian Clayborn

The Pats giving the Steelers a headache and a kick in the ass out of Gillette Stadium has become a given. The Steelers are 1-5 since that stadium opened (the win was over Matt Cassell in 2008 and not Tom Brady) and 4-11 in the Brady/Belichick era. The Steelers did get a win at home last December, but a win on the road in the Super Bowl Champ’s home opener is really challenging. The Steelers seem reborn, but New England has reloaded. Call me a pessimist, but I’m not putting money on the Steelers straight-up in this one.

Prediction: Patriots

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Week 2

Seattle Seahawks

Sunday 9/15/2019 1:00 PM EDT (Fox)

Notable Additions: DE L.J. Collier, SS Marquise Blair, LB Cody Barton, WR Gary Jennings, WR D.K. Metcalf, DE Ezekiel Ansah, QB Paxton Lynch, G Mike Iupati, K Jason Myers, TE Jason Hollister, DT Al Woods,

Significant Departures: S Earl Thomas, DE Frank Clark, WR Doug Baldwin, S Kam Chancellor

The Seahawks are a playoff team from last season and have a quarterback in Russell Wilson that can take over a game in a hurry. However, this offense has lost personnel and Wilson might be doing it alone for a while. Heinz Field will be fired up for this one.

Prediction: Steelers

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Week 3

at San Francisco 49ers

Sunday 9/22/2019 8:15 PM EDT (ESPN)

Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

Key Additions: LB Kwon Alexander, LB Dee Ford, RB Tevin Coleman, CB Jason Verrett, WR Jordan Matthews, C Wesley Johnson, TE Levine Toilolo, DL Nick Bosa, WR Deebo Samuel, P Mitch Wishnowsky, WR Jalen Hurd

Significant Departures: P Bradley Pinion, OT Garry Gilliam, DE Cassius Marsh, WR Pierre Garcon, OL Anthony Davis, RB Matthew Dayes

Mike Tomlin teams struggle in West Coast venues and it has been 20 years since the Steelers have won in “the City”. It’s hard to tell just how bad the 49ers are. They’ve been ravaged with injuries to many a weapon, including Jimmy Garroppolo and Jerick McKinnon. But even at full strength, I feel like the Niners might not have the power to beat the Steelers should they be at full strength.

Prediction: Steelers

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Week 4

Cincinnati Bengals

Monday 9/30/2018 8:15 PM EDT (ESPN)

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Notable Additions: CB B.W. Webb, G John Miller, DE Kerry Wynn, OT Jonah Williams, TE Drew Sample, LB Germaine Pratt, QB Ryan Foley, G/C Michael Jordan

Notable Departures: TE Tyler Kroft, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, LB Vontaze Burfict, OT Jake Fisher, QB Tom Savage

A.J. Green and Joe Mixon are still there, but this team is slipping deeper and deeper into the abyss. Plus, Burfict’s departure has taken the bite out of these tigers. Steelers take this one at home on MNF.

Prediction: Steelers

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Week 5

Baltimore Ravens

Sunday 10/6/2019 1:00 PM EDT (CBS)

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Notable Additions: S Earl Thomas, RB Mark Ingram II, LB Matthew Thomas, CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, WR Seth Roberts, LB Shane Ray, WR Michael Floyd, LB Pernell McPhee, WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, LB Jaylon Ferguson, WR Miles Boykin, RB Justice Hill, G Ben Powers, QB Trace McSorley

Notable Departures: QB Joe Flacco, LB Terrell Suggs, LB C.J. Mosley, WR John Brown, WR Michael Crabtree, LB Za’Darius Smith, RB Alex Collins, CB Jaylen Hill

I just don’t really know the true identity of this version of the birds. Baltimore lost Joe Flacco, half of their defense and two rookies may be their best receivers. However, John Harbaugh is resilient and loves to be counted out. Plus, Lamar Jackson has great firepower on the ground. Even at home, I think they need to see Jackson as a starter to figure him out. Since that hasn’t been experienced, I’m going with B-More.

Prediction: Ravens

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Week 6

at Los Angeles Chargers

Sunday 10/13/2019 8:20 PM EDT (NBC)

Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Notable Additions: DT Jerry Tillery, S Nasir Adderley, T Trey Pipkins, QB Tyrol Taylor, LB Thomas Davis, G Spencer Drango,

Notable Departures: TE Austin Roberts, K Nick Rose,

I don’t like this matchup at all in the early going of the season on the West Coast. This isn’t the 49ers. Phil Rivers, Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen may be too much for the Steelers. I just have that feeling.

Prediction: Chargers

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Week 7

Bye

Much needed rest after playing four playoff teams in the first six weeks.

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Week 8

Miami Dolphins

Monday 10/28/2019 8:15 PM EDT (ESPN)

Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Notable Additions: QB Josh Rosen, TE Dwayne Allen, CB Eric Rowe, TE Clive Walford, G/C Chris Reed, DL Christian Wilkins, G Michael Deiter, T Isaiah Prince

Notable Departures: QB Ryan Tannehill, DE Andre Branch, C/G Ted Larsen, WR Dannny Amendola, G Josh Sitton, DE Robert Quinn, WR Ricardo Louis

Miami is one of those teams that you would rather play at home than on the road. It’s on Monday at home and that’s typically a good omen for the Steelers. It still won’t be a cakewalk and it will be interesting to see what Josh Rosen brings to the fish-like mammals. But I like the Steelers snapping a two-game skid here.

Prediction: Steelers

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Week 9

Indianapolis Colts

Sunday 11/3/2019 1:00 PM EDT (CBS)

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Notable Additions: WR Devin Funchess, S Clayton Geathers, DE Justin Houston, S Derrick Kindred, T J’Marcus Webb, CB Rock Ya-Sin, LB Ben Banogou, WR Parris Campbell, LB Bobby Okereke, RB Spencer Ware

Notable Departures: CB Jalen Collins, DT Hassan Ridgeway, DT Chunky Clements

The Steelers have had the number of the Colts lately, but that hasn’t been against Andrew Luck. This was a playoff team last season and will be a challenge. But I’m still picking the Steelers to rise up against Indy.

Prediction: Steelers

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Week 10

Los Angeles Rams

Sunday 11/10/2019 4:25 PM EDT (FOX)

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Notable Additions: LB Clay Matthews, S Eric Weddle, QB Blake Bortles, S Taylor Rapp, RB Darrell Henderson, CB David Long, OT Bobby Evans

Notable Departures: LB Mark Barron, DT Ndamukong Suh

If this game against the Rams just happened to be in Los Angeles, it would be a different story. I’m just not sure how damage Todd Gurley is and I think this can indeed be a shootout. I’m just thinking the Steelers will play up to the high caliber of the competition ant prevail.

Projection: Steelers

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Week 11

at Cleveland Browns

Thursday 11/14/2019 8:20 PM EDT (FOX, NFL Network, Amazon)

Notable Additions: WR Odell Beckham Jr., RB Kareem Hunt, WR Jaelen Strong, DL Olivier Vernon, DL Sheldon Richardson, TE Demetrius Harris, OL Kendall Lamm, DL Trevon Coley, WR Rashard Higgins, DB Eric Murraay, S Morgan Burnett, CB Greedy Williams, LB Sione Takitaki, LB Mack Wilson, S Sheldrick Redwine

Notable Departures: LB Jamie Collins Sr., TE Darren Fells, OL Kevin Zeitler, S Jabrill Peppers, OL Kendall Lamm, DL Trevon Coley, WR Rashard Higgins, DL Emannuel Ogbah

Cleveland will definitely be rocking on Thursday Night and I just don’t have a good feeling about this one. With a revamped lineup and high hopes, the rivalry returns to prominence on TNF

Prediction: Cleveland

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Week 12

at Cincinnati Bengals

Sunday 11/24/2019 1:00 PM EDT (CBS)

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Key Additions: CB B.W. Webb, G John Miller, DE Kerry Wynn, OT Jonah Williams, TE Drew Sample, LB Germaine Pratt, QB Ryan Foley, G/C Michael Jordan

Significant Departures: TE Tyler Kroft, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, LB Vontaze Burfict, OT Jake Fisher, QB Tom Savage

On the road in Ohio again this week, the healing begins with a win over a decimated foe.

Prediction: Steelers

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Week 13

Cleveland Browns

Sunday 12/1/2019 4:25 PM EDT (CBS)

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Notable Additions: WR Odell Beckham Jr., RB Kareem Hunt, WR Jaelen Strong, DL Olivier Vernon, DL Sheldon Richardson, TE Demetrius Harris, OL Kendall Lamm, DL Trevon Coley, WR Rashard Higgins, DB Eric Murraay, S Morgan Burnett, CB Greedy Williams, LB Sione Takitaki, LB Mack Wilson, S Sheldrick Redwine

Notable Departures: LB Jamie Collins Sr., TE Darren Fells, OL Kevin Zeitler, S Jabrill Peppers, OL Kendall Lamm, DL Trevon Coley, WR Rashard Higgins, DL Emannuel Ogbah

The Steelers get revenge against Cleveland for the Week 11 loss and serve notice that the tide has not turned all the way brown. Ben Roethlisberger and James Conner put the team on their backs, while the defense stands tall.

Prediction: Steelers

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Week 14

at Arizona Cardinals

Sunday 12/8/2019 4:25 PM EDT (CBS)

Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Notable Additions: QB Kyler Murray, CB Byron Murphy, WR Andy Isabella, DE Zach Allen, WR Hakeem Butler, S Deionte Thompson, RT Marcus Gilbert, LB Terrell Suggs, DB Robert Alford, LB Jordan Hicks, OL Max García, LB JR Sweezy

Notable Departures: Josh Rosen

This team has a long rebuild in the desert. Even though the Steelers aren’t sterling out west, they will handle the Cardinals for their third straight win.

Prediction: Steelers

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Week 15

Buffalo Bills

Sunday 12/15/2019 1:00 PM EDT (CBS)

Notable Additions: DL Ed Oliver, T Cody Ford, RB Devin Singletary, WR Cole Beasley, WR John Brown, RB Frank Gore, G John Feliciano, CB Kevin Johnson, TE Tyler Kroft, C Mitch Morse, T Ty Nsekhe, WR Andre Roberts, OL LaAdrian Waddle, CB E.J. Gaines, DT L.T. Walton,

Notable Departures: TE Charles Clay, RB Chris Ivory, QB Derek Anderson,

The Steelers are hitting their stride and the improved Bills don’t quite have enough to beat Pittsburgh at Heinz Field at this particular juncture.

Prediction: Steelers

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Week 16

at New York Jets

Monday 12/22/2019 1:00 PM EDT (CBS)

Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images

Notable Additions: RB Le’Veon Bell, LB C.J. Mosley, WR Jamison Crowder, K Chandler Catanzaro, WR Josh Bellamy, OL Kelichi Osemele, QB Trevor Siemian, DT Quinnen Williams, RB Jachai Polite

Notable Departures: LB Darron Lee, QB Josh McCown, CB Buster Skrine, CB Morris Claiborne, K Jason Myers

While my gut says that Le’Veon Bell is injured and doesn’t play in this game, but I’m seeing this as a road loss at the hands of Sam Darnold.

Prediction: Jets

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Week 17

at Baltimore Ravens

Sunday 12/29/2019 1:00 PM EDT (CBS)

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Notable Additions: S Earl Thomas, RB Mark Ingram II, LB Matthew Thomas, CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, WR Seth Roberts, LB Shane Ray, WR Michael Floyd, LB Pernell McPhee, WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, LB Jaylon Ferguson, WR Miles Boykin, RB Justice Hill, G Ben Powers, QB Trace McSorley

Notable Departures: QB Joe Flacco, LB Terrell Suggs, LB C.J. Mosley, WR John Brown, WR Michael Crabtree, LB Za’Darius Smith, RB Alex Collins, CB Jaylen Hill

Sure the Steelers don’t always light the world on fire at M&T, but there are two possibilities here. The first one is with the Steelers needing to win to capture the division which I think they would adjust after seeing Jackson the first time around. The second would be a scenario where the North is clinched and Mason Rudolph gets a start with an opportunity to impress. I’m just feeling the Steelers here.

Prediction: Steelers

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Of course, I might be way off. But we can check back at season's end to see how I did. If I'm “on,” then we should all be relatively happy at 11-5.