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The latest mainstream Steelers prediction might be the most laughable

The Pittsburgh Steelers are becoming the NFL media’s punching bag.

Syndication: The Enquirer Kareem Elgazzar via Imagn Content Services, LLC

There are times throughout the NFL offseason when certain sites/networks will create content which truly makes you scratch your head. No, not because it might go against your thoughts/feelings on your favorite team, but because the content is so outlandish it makes you shake your head.

That is how you can describe the latest gem from the NFL’s official website. Their radio personality, and writer, Adam Schein, gave five bold predictions for the 2021 season, and the one involving the Pittsburgh Steelers was rather intriguing. Who am I kidding? It was laughable...check it out:

The Bengals win more games than the Steelers

Joe Burrow took the field at Bengals workouts on Tuesday. That’s all I needed to see. Burrow will hit the ground running with old LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase. This connection was special in that 2019 national championship run — I can’t wait to see these two make sweet music together once again. And the Bengals’ band of playmakers runs deep. Burrow already showed a fine rapport with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, while Joe Mixon has the all-around skill set to bounce back in a major way from last year’s injury-riddled campaign. Like colleague Gregg Rosenthal said, the offensive line looks better on paper than you think. Lou Anarumo’s defense remains a big question mark — with a bunch of notable losses and gains in free agency — but the offense has the kind of firepower to win some shootouts. All in all, I think the arrow is pointing up in Cincy. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh...

The Steelers still have a Hall of Fame quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, but he’s not Benjamin Button. Now 39 years old, Big Ben clearly hit a wall down the stretch last year. So did Pittsburgh. From 11-0 to first-round playoff exit. And I don’t see the trend reversing for the better in 2021. While first-round pick Najee Harris is a stud runner, the offensive line remains problematic. The defense lost Bud Dupree (who’d become a fabulous edge-rushing complement to T.J. Watt) and Mike Hilton (the stud slot corner who just so happened to relocate to Cincy). And it sure doesn’t help that the aging Steelers drew the NFL’s toughest strength of schedule.

Maybe Schein is thinking all about the Bengals’ Monday Night Football victory over the Steelers last season. Or maybe he is banking hard on Joe Burrow’s knee injury being completely healed and not a factor this season. Either way, Schein is just the latest who is taking a “Steelers are done” approach to their content.

How you respond to this “bold prediction” depends on how you view the Steelers in 2021. There are the fans who think Schein might be spot on, and view the upcoming season in a pessimistic light. Then there are those who will scoff at the narrative, and believe the Steelers are Super Bowl contenders.

Which side of the fence do you reside? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steeler as they prepare for the upcoming 2021 regular season.