Here's the issue: strength of schedule. Most teams that make the playoffs and do well generally in the NFL have weaker strength of schedule. Next season ('08-'09) the Steelers have a ridiculously difficult schedule. While the Steelers are well-coached, have the third best quarterback in the league according to rating, and boast a strong running game, the week in and weak out grind will take it's toll.
The AFC is unforgiving about the overall record of teams. Anything below 10-6 and you are either playing a very formidable first round in the playoffs (should your division fall out that way) or you are going home after week 17 to eat pretzels and wash your pitbull.
Here's a brief gander at some of the Steelers' season in '08: Patriots, Titans, Browns, Redskins, Jaguars (all away). Browns, Colts, Cowboys, Chargers, Giants (all home).
And those are the easy games...just kidding. In that schedule is virtually every playoff team from this past season and the Browns, who nipped at the Steel-heel for the latter half of '07. Two of the teams are playing in the Superbowl this Sunday! Two more have the two quarterbacks with better pass ratings than our own Big Ben. Going 8-8 will be likely.
That being said, I pray that I'm wrong because I would love to see black and gold back in the big game next year, but the Steelers cannot have any bad losses (see the Cardinals and Jets) and must pull off a couple of huge wins over very game opposition both within and without our division.
Based on strength of schedule (the pros have no RPI ratings), the Steelers are likely to be in trouble come winter, however, if they do make it in (likely as a wildcard), they will be game-tested and could pull the same manuver as the Giants did this year--if injuries don't rear their heads.
Keywords: 2008 season, Steelers, strength of schedule
