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5 Reasons Why the Pittsburgh Steelers Won’t Win Super Bowl XLIX

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5 Reasons Why the Pittsburgh Steelers Won’t Win Super Bowl XLIX

Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

With the Pittsburgh Steelers back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season, the Black and Gold faithful again have visions of the Lombardi trophy in their dreams. But before the City of Champions can start bragging about a seventh ring, the Steelers must overcome a mountain of obstacles. Here’s why it will all become too much for this supposed team of destiny.

5. Baltimore Ravens Will Beat Steelers To A Pulp

Antonio Brown, C.J. Mosley
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

5. Baltimore Ravens Will Beat Steelers To A Pulp

Antonio Brown, C.J. Mosley
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Forget the divisional and conference round. For the Steelers to get anywhere in this year’s playoffs, they must first take care of their fiercest enemy. Baltimore hasn’t been its usual proud self this season, but expect nothing short of a bloodbath every time the greatest rivalry in the NFL writes another violent chapter. Sure, Pittsburgh could leave Heinz Field with the win, but at what cost?

4. Nothing Special About Special Teams

Brad Wing
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

4. Nothing Special About Special Teams

Brad Wing
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Outside of Antonio Brown’s improvised punt return last week, Pittsburgh has not had much help from the special teams unit all season. Veteran kicker Shaun Suisham has been unpredictable – culminating in a shanked 23-yarder against the New York Jets – and Australian Brad Wing simply lacks the leg strength of an NFL-caliber punter. Against an evenly matched opponent like Baltimore, special teams could prove the difference, for better or worse.

3. Ben Has A Case of the Turnovers

Ben Roethlisberger, Wallace Gilberry
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

3. Ben Has A Case of the Turnovers

Ben Roethlisberger, Wallace Gilberry
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Steeler fans might not want anybody else in the league under center, but they’ll be the first to tell you: when Ben throws an early pick or loses a first-quarter fumble, it’s often a sign of things to come. In the regular season, the offense had enough firepower to overcome the occasional error, but the cream of the AFC crop won’t be quite so forgiving. All it takes is one bad game to undo a whole season’s work.

2. Team Isn’t Complete Enough To Compete With the Best

Brice McCain, Antwon Blake
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

2. Team Isn’t Complete Enough To Compete With the Best

Brice McCain, Antwon Blake
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh might be playing the best football in the NFL right now, but a lot can change in a short amount of time in this league. Many times, the Super Bowl victor has not been the best team all season, but simply the team that played the best at the right time. It feels unlikely that this inexperienced defense can continue to force turnovers at the same rate for another whole month, especially against Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

1. Le’Veon Bell’s Absence Will Cripple the Offense

Le'Veon Bell
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

1. Le’Veon Bell’s Absence Will Cripple the Offense

Le'Veon Bell
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

It is nothing short of criminal that Bell probably won’t even be considered for the NFL’s MVP award. For just a second-year back, he is the nucleus through which the entire offense operates, whether it be through his patient running, blitz pickups, presence in the play-action game or reliability as a receiving target. To downgrade from the league’s best back to a rush-by-committee trio might be a setback no team is capable of overcoming.

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