Madden Monday: Steelers’ win in Cincinnati doesn't outweigh remaining hurdles

The Pittsburgh Steelers dispatched the Cincinnati Bengals 44-38 Sunday. So that means they’ve managed to win two of their first three AFC North games at the halfway point of their back-loaded divisional schedule.

One game each remains against the Bengals, Browns and Ravens — along with contests in Philadelphia and at home against Kansas City on Christmas Day.

Despite a 9-3 record so far, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X isn’t expecting too many more victories.

“Only one for sure,” Madden said during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “If you made me predict right now how this goes, I say they beat Cleveland (Sunday afternoon), lose the next three (against Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas City), and probably beat Cincinnati at Acrisure (in the regular season finale).

I agree with Madden’s belief that the Steelers win the return games at home against the two Ohio teams. That would get them to at least 11 victories. Where Madden and I differ is, I feel as if the Steelers are good enough that they’ll scratch out at least one win against the Eagles (Dec. 15), Ravens (Dec. 21) or Chiefs (Dec. 25) even though they’ll likely be underdogs in all three games.

“The reason why I’m predicting they lose all three is because I think when you play three games in 10 days, excrement is going to roll downhill. And I just think when they lose the first one, they’ll keep losing,” Madden argued. “If that last game means something to the Steelers, but not Cincinnati, I think that pretty much dictates the result. Although, what will it mean to Pittsburgh? I mean, will they be playing just to make the playoffs?”

I’m guessing by that point, the Steelers will be in a playoff spot, and they’ll likely be looking to clinch the division or move up a seed in the playoff bracket. But Madden is less certain.

“They’re probably going to wind up with 11 wins and maybe 12. But I think probably 11,” Madden reiterated. “You say they’re going to win one of those three. I would suggest to you it’s just as likely that they lose one of the other two (to Cleveland or Cincinnati).”

That point, I can’t argue. The Steelers could certainly have a loss like that still in their bag. Hey, they lost to Cleveland two weeks ago. So I’m not going to assure victory any week after that display.

“One thing for sure about the Steelers is that nothing is for sure,” Madden said.

Also, in the podcast, we talk about Baltimore stumbling against Philadelphia, why the Penguins have improved lately, and all those college football upsets and brawls from over the weekend.