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The 2021 regular season is upon us, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the Denver Broncos in Week 5. While the Steelers get ready for their third home game of the season, it is time for the BTSC staff to put on their prognostication hats and guess the winner of the contest.
Who will get closest? We will be keeping tabs, so let’s get the picks. Check out the staff picks below, and even a pick from an enemy guest!
Jeff Hartman
A lot of this pick comes down to who is going to be at quarterback for the Broncos. If Teddy Bridgewater is under center, it changes compared to if Drew Lock is taking the snaps. I am going to assume Bridgewater is the quarterback, but that doesn’t mean I think it changes the outcome of the game. I think this is a defensive battle with points at a premium. If you like a defensive grudge match, this is your game. In the end, I think the Steelers’ offense does just enough to get the team back on the winning side of things.
Pick: Steelers 20, Broncos 16
Dave Schofield
It’s a clash of two teams that have their defenses at a level above their offenses. Although the Broncos are higher ranked than the Steelers, they have only played one winning team while all of the Steelers’ previous opponents are sitting at 3-1. In a low scoring affair, I have the Steelers squeaking one out with both teams getting the same number of scores but the Steelers having one more touchdown. Just remember, in low scoring games a splash play means so much more, so the Steelers have to be on the right side of things.
Pick: Steeler 17, Broncos 13
Bryan Anthony Davis
Four weeks, four incorrect predictions. The Steelers had chances to emerge victorious in all four contests that they competed in so far in 2021. Denver is a weird team. In their first three games, the Broncos went 3-0 against a slate of teams that were a combined 0-9. No matter the quarterback wearing white, the Steelers are going to finally get that elusive win No. 2. Ted Lasso preaches it, I will comply. Believe.
Pick: Steelers 26, Broncos 24
Michael Beck
This could go down as a really, really ugly and low scoring defensive affair. If Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t play for the Broncos the Steelers will have a very good chance of victory, but a Drew Lock verses semi-retired Ben Roethlisberger game might be a hard one for casuals to get through. I really hope I’m wrong on this one, but I don’t expect much from either side.
Pick: Steelers 10, Broncos 13
K.T. Smith
The Steelers showed improvement in the run game last week against Green Bay’s odd front. They face another one this week in Denver. A viable run game could help Ben Roethlisberger immensely. On offense, Denver is without two solid receivers in Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler and may be without starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. With T.J. Watt getting healthy, the Pittsburgh defense should improve as well. Call me an optimist but I think these things equate to a much-needed win.
Pick: Steelers 24, Broncos 20
Geoffrey Benedict
There are signs of life on the Steelers, believe it or not. But I don’t think this is their week, not with how well Von Miller is playing and the situation with the Steelers tackles. But don’t lose hope, it’s always darkest before the dawn.
Pick: Broncos 20, Steelers 17
Rich Schofield (Big Bro Scho)
Is there any real confidence in this team right now? The defense is dinged up and the offense has been unable to find it's stride consistently. I would love to pick the Steelers, but as of late I have been more improving mode than let's get them mode.
Pick: Broncos 26, Steelers 17
Shannon White
I picked the Steelers to lose last week out of fear that I had been jinxing them. First, the good news, it wasn't me. The bad news is they still lost. The Steelers actually showed slight improvements on offense last week, and the defense gave an admirable effort inspite of all the injuries. Hopefully the offense is trending in the right direction, and the numerous walking wounded are getting healthier by the day. I am admittedly picking this game with my heart more than my head. I can't fathom the Steelers losing three straight home games to start a season, and the rookies need to experience their first victory at Heinz Field.
Pick: Steelers 24, Broncos 17
Andrew Wilbar
I am currently 0-4 picking Steelers games this week, so perhaps I need to just pick us to lose every week. It will all come down to whether our offense can make a couple splash plays and open up running lanes, but I do not see it happening against a strong secondary led by Justin Simmons and Kyle Fuller. Plus, a pass rush led by Von Miller will not match up well with an offensive line as bad as ours.
Pick: Broncos 20, Steelers 16
Matty Peverell
This will be the last week I go heart over head if the Steelers lose. Something tells me Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris, our two rookie stallions, are about to let loose! I think Ben finds better deep ball and medium passing accuracy this week and JuJu Smith-Schuster or Chase Claypool score a 35+ yard TD, while the Broncos are busy trying to handle Dionte Johnson after he accrues major YAC early on. Or maybe I’m wrong, Von Miller sacks Ben 3+ times, he throws a pick, the fans boo and it’s Rudolph in the firing line? My heart says the offensive line rock up to play this week and create the time to throw or holes to run that fans are so desperate for, to get the team going.
Pick: Steelers 27, Broncos 21
Mark Davison
The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing poorly at the moment and I can’t pin A specific reason why. Ben Roethlisberger throws his 400th pass and collectively Steeler Nation sounds like Mike Tomlin “ We do not care”. Unfortunately this Is the path the Steelers have forged so far. The Steelers need to turn up and play football and get back to the fundamentals. Our role As Steeler fans Is to never give up and we need to twirl that Terrible Towel harder than ever before.
Pick: Steelers 33, Broncos 13
Anthony Defeo
The Broncos have a good defense. Teddy Bridgewater is a decent veteran quarterback. The Steelers offense will likely function close to how it has the past year or so. Having said all that, however, I like the Steelers chances this week.
Pick: Steelers 20, Broncos 13
Joe Rowles (Mile High Report Contributor)
This is a bit of a hedge because I don’t know who will start at QB, but if Teddy Bridgewater plays the whole game I think Denver wins by 21-17. If Drew Lock starts it’s going to be a Pittsburgh blowout.
What is your prediction? Let us know in the comment section below, and feel free to tell the contributors above why they are dead wrong, or spot on!
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