(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
For the past few years, Adam Schein of CBS Sports has had a weird obsession with hating on the Steelers. Perhaps, he truly feels this way, but it's also probably for clicks because he knows he's going to fire up the Steelers fan base and get a reaction.
A few weeks ago, Schein said the Steelers are going to be a "hot mess" and that he can't find six wins on their schedule in 2021. Schein also said that he thinks the Steelers will lose every game from Week 11-18, losing to the Chargers on Sunday Night Football in Los Angeles, at Bengals, Ravens at home, at Vikings on Thursday Night Football, Titans at home, at Chiefs, Browns on Monday Night Football at home and at Ravens.
"Ben Roethlisberger was cooked at the end of last year, why do I think he's going to be ready to rock and roll this year?" Schein said. "The line still stinks. Defense is not what it was. Bud Dupree's not walking through that door. I'm telling ya, second-half schedule, murders row. And this team wasn't any good last year. Now, Najee Harris is going to help the offense without question, but can't block for himself, right? Can't block for himself. Ben Roethlisberger's not getting any younger. I mean, Cleveland and Baltimore, whatever order, they're the class of the division. They are vastly superior football teams. Don't be surprised if Cincinnati ends up winning more games than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh is going to be a hot mess."
For being just a four-win team last season, Schein is really high on the Bengals this year and one of his bold predictions in 2021 is that Cincinnati will win more games than the Steelers.
"Joe Burrow took the field at Bengals workouts on Tuesday. That's all I needed to see," Schein wrote. "Burrow will hit the ground running with old LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase. This connection was special in that 2019 national championship run -- I can't wait to see these two make sweet music together once again. And the Bengals' band of playmakers runs deep. Burrow already showed a fine rapport with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, while Joe Mixon has the all-around skill set to bounce back in a major way from last year's injury-riddled campaign. Like colleague Gregg Rosenthal said, the offensive line looks better on paper than you think. Lou Anarumo's defense remains a big question mark -- with a bunch of notable losses and gains in free agency -- but the offense has the kind of firepower to win some shootouts. All in all, I think the arrow is pointing up in Cincy. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh. ..."
As you can see, Schein hypes up the Bengals like they are Super Bowl contenders, while he has a rather grim outlook for the Steelers.
"The Steelers still have a Hall of Fame quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, but he's not Benjamin Button," Schein wrote. "Now 39 years old, Big Ben clearly hit a wall down the stretch last year. So did Pittsburgh. From 11-0 to first-round playoff exit. And I don't see the trend reversing for the better in 2021. While first-round pick Najee Harris is a stud runner, the offensive line remains problematic. The defense lost Bud Dupree (who'd become a fabulous edge-rushing complement to T.J. Watt ) and Mike Hilton (the stud slot corner who just so happened to relocate to Cincy). And it sure doesn't help that the aging Steelers drew the NFL's toughest strength of schedule."
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