In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X looks into his crystal ball. He has seen the future. And Steelers fans will love the first part of what he has to say.

The second part? Not so much.

“I have a vision they will go 16-0,” Madden said. “And lose their first playoff game. Then people will take to the streets with torches and pitchforks.”

I’ll disagree with Mark on the 16-0 part. I see the Steelers losing at least twice, if not three times, between now and the end of the season. As far as the playoffs go, let’s see what the matchup is first.

Mark and I also dive into the loss of outside linebacker Bud Dupree, the potential of a James Harrison return, some of the complaining the Steelers are doing about the rescheduling of games and the struggles of the Steelers’ run game.

But, while we are at it, there are some problems with the passing game, too. For instance, why do they constantly throw behind the sticks on possession downs? That seems to be catching up with them. Baltimore had a lot of those plays snuffed out last Wednesday.

“If it’s all you do, then the other team gets in a rhythm of defending,” Madden said. “If you let the other team draw a bead on what you are doing, sometimes it doesn’t matter how good you usually are at doing it. And God forbid you are a little bit off. That’s what I sense could lose a playoff game for the Steelers.”

As far as Monday’s game goes, I’m not ruling out the prospect of a Washington upset. And neither is Madden.

At least not entirely.

“These (Washington down linemen), they put their hand in the ground and go get it. But I think the Steelers would probably win seven times, maybe eight (out of 10). I still don’t think Washington is very good,” Madden insisted.

“Even with the injuries, the problems the Steelers are having, they’d win seven or eight out of 10.”

Mark and I also get into the nuances of doing a radio show up against a Steelers game — as Mark has had to do twice in the span of a week now. The chances of seeing hockey before next fall. And the notion of going to Las Vegas during a partial pandemic shutdown.

Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden preview the Steelers game versus Washington and share some season predictions

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