Football Footnotes: Annual NFL predictions have Steelers falling back. But how much?
As is tradition at “Breakfast With Benz,” we use our first “Friday Football Footnotes” of the year as the platform to make our season predictions.
Ready or not, here we are.
• Last year, I had the Steelers at 9-8 and the last team to miss the playoffs. They ended up 10-7 and the second of three wild cards.
You’re welcome, Pittsburgh! I’m replicating my pick from last year.
The 2025 Steelers will go 9-8, finish fourth in the wild card chase, eighth in the AFC overall, and miss the playoffs by one slot.
Let’s see if your Stillers can do the same thing as they did in 2024 and prove me wrong by jussssst enough again.
Even if they do, though, is that the goal? Another nine or 10 wins and another blowout road loss in the first round of the AFC playoffs?
It shouldn’t be.
But, of course, we’ll justify that result by way of applauding the Steelers for continuing to never have a losing season under Mike Tomlin.
As I’ve said before in this space, the sum of the parts in 2025 should be greater than “the whole” was in 2024. Position-by-position, the Steelers should be as good or better than they were a year ago, everywhere besides safety.
But age and injury risk for Aaron Rodgers, the secondary, and the front seven scare me. I’ve also got worries about the offensive line, running backs and depth wide receivers.
A repeat of last year isn’t out of the picture, but that’s as good as it is gonna get.
• As for the rest of the AFC North, I think the Baltimore Ravens will win it with relative ease. They’ll be a 12-or-13-win team.
The Bengals should be better in September this year, and the defense can’t be worse than a year ago. I’ve got them with nine or 10 wins, edging the Steelers for second place in the division, claiming the last AFC Wild Card spot.
• As for the rest of the AFC divisions, the Bills will win the East comfortably again.
The NFL think-tank collective opinion that this is the year of Kansas City’s demise is coming a year early… at least. They’ll win the West again, largely because I don’t trust Denver or Los Angeles to snatch it from them.
The Chargers will be the AFC’s top wild card. The Broncos are overhyped and premature, but they’ll be the sixth seed, just in front of Cincy.
Houston wins the South again by default, but I expect them to be healthier and better than last year.
The NFC is a lot more muddled. I’m confident in Philly winning the East. I feel really secure in Tampa Bay claiming the South.
Upheaval on Detroit’s coaching staff may shorten the amount of time the Lions have to make a Super Bowl. They’ll backslide but still win the North with 11 victories.
The West is a crapshoot. No idea. Gimme the Rams for lack of anything else to add. That’ll be a one-bid division.
I see the wild card race coming down to three of four teams: Green Bay, Washington, Dallas and the Vikings.
Minnesota strikes me as the team left without a seat. The other three make it.
I think the AFC playoffs boil down to Baltimore or Buffalo winning the conference. Whoever has home-field advantage in the AFC Championship Game probably wins. But considering the pressure associated with those circumstances… I don’t know. I suppose I’ll pick the Bills.
Philadelphia is still the best team in the NFC. Tampa is a sneaky dark horse to win a playoff game or two. Detroit could keep its window open, but I’ve got the Eagles repeating as NFC champions.
History says the Bills can’t win a Super Bowl. Vegas says they can (+700), but only if they beat Philly (+650) and Baltimore (+650) along the way.
They will. Bills over the Eagles in Santa Clara, 32-30.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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