Late flourish comes up short
What went right: The Steelers again had one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses. The defense rebounded from a miserable start to finish in the top half of the league in every major category and help push Pittsburgh to the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers didn’t lose from mid-November until late January, and a team built for a playoff run won two postseason games. Standout RB
delivered his best season. Behind a veteran offensive line, Bell, QB and WR
again showed they can attack defenses in multiple ways and light up scoreboards. LBs and delivered outstanding seasons and sparked the defensive turnaround.
What went wrong: Bell got hurt in the AFC title game, the Steelers couldn’t convert on a first-and-goal inside the 1-yard line and a shaky pass defense finally got burned. Roethlisberger struggled on the road all season, and though WR stepped up later in the season, the Steelers’ other receivers never really stepped up in the absence of suspended WR OLB
remains a locker room leader and a marvel for his longevity, but it reflects poorly on some of the Steelers’ other personnel decisions that Harrison, 38, led the Steelers in sacks with five.
Big offseason decisions: Bell’s rookie contract is set to expire. There’s no way the Steelers will let the soon-to-be 25-year old within a mile of the open market, so if the team can’t work out a long-term deal before March, he will get the franchise tag. Timmons also will be a free agent, and the Steelers presumably want him back, so there could be residual effects resulting from the money the team will have to pay Bell and Timmons. The pass rush and the secondary must be addressed as well, and a decision must be made on TE who never really contributed because of ankle and concussion issues.
Player of the year: Bell raised his game to a new level. He runs with a rare combination of patience and power, and as the season went on, it was clear the offensive line had developed confidence and chemistry, allowing Bell to pick his spots to keep defenses on their heels. He catches the ball well out of the backfield, too, and if the Steelers can keep him healthy, more special seasons await.
STEELERS SCHEDULE
Zac Jackson