The NFL released the 2021 regular season schedule this past week, and CBS Sports’ Adam Schein is struggling to find optimism in the Pittsburgh Steelers given their tough slate.
By many metrics, Pittsburgh is considered to have the most challenging schedule in the league this coming season, and Schein is struggling to find them more than six wins.
“Look at the back end,” Schein said. “Every single game from Week 11 through Week 18 I will pick the Pittsburgh Steelers to lose.”
Schein’s lack of faith in the Steelers is twofold. He does not trust Ben Roethlisberger at his age, and has no confidence that the Steelers will be improved along the offensive line.
While those issues certainly seemed to have had an affect last year down the stretch for Pittsburgh, there is no telling if they will carry over into 2021.
Schein even believes the Cincinnati Bengals, who finished last in the division a season ago and picked fifth in April’s draft, will have a better record than the Steelers.
“Don’t be surprised if Cincinnati ends up winning more games than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh is going to be a hot mess,” Schein added.
"Don't be surprised if Cincinnati ends up winning more games than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh is going to be a hot mess." @AdamSchein is looking, but he can't find six wins on the Steelers schedule. 🧐 pic.twitter.com/bDenMQNq9y
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) May 13, 2021
All that being said, Schein also picked the Steelers to miss the postseason for a third-straight year in 2020. They won the AFC North and reached the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2017. Pittsburgh will try to prove him wrong once again.