2006 Pittsburgh Steelers Predictions

The 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers will be facing one of the most difficult things to do in sports and that is to repeat as a champion. Defending champions have to deal with offseason distractions, usually have a tougher schedule and everyone is gunning for them the next season.

The defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers added one more issue to the list this offseason -- keeping your quarterback from killing himself. The Steelers and star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger look to have dodged a major bullet, however. Exactly two months after his life-threatening motorcycle accident, Big Ben has been pronounced ready to play, and he will start the team's preseason opener Saturday against Arizona.

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Key Additions: DE Rodney Bailey, DBs Ryan Clark and Anthony Smith (rookie), WRs Santonio Holmes (rookie) and Willie Reid (rookie).

Key Subtractions: WR Antwaan Randle El, RB Jerome Bettis (retired), FS Chris Hope, DE Kimo von Oelhoffen

Sportsbook Odds: Despite the offseason losses and Roethlisberger's frightening accident, the bettors still like the Steelers. WagerWeb.com has Pittsburgh as -$145 to win the AFC North, +$670 to win the AFC championship and +$1400 to win Super Bowl XLI.

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Player To Watch: All eyes will be on Roethlisberger this weekend and when the season starts. The Steelers are confident that Big Ben will be in top form when the season opens. "I like the frame of mind he's in right now," Coach Bill Cowher said. "I'm not worried about Ben. It's more, I think, just getting our football team and making sure we're all on the same page and that we get back to where we need to be." Roethlisberger still needs to gain back some weight and strength that he lost during the recovery from his broken jaw, and it will be interesting to see how he reacts when he takes his first hit to the head.

Outlook: With all the attention on Roethlisberger this offseason, the holes at running back and wide receiver haven't been talked about much. Duce Staley and Verron Haynes figure to team with last year's leading rusher, Willie Parker, to replace Bettis on the field, but replacing Bettis' leadership off the field won't be so easy. The Steelers hope Holmes will be able to replace Randle El. Holmes has been involved in a series of off-the-field problems, however, and he is nursing a hamstring injury right now. Cowher said Holmes, like most rookies, is a work in progress.

The Steelers' defense will again lead the team and keep Pittsburgh in the playoff hunt. The Steelers will find out early what their chances of repeating will be. Their first five games are against Miami, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, San Diego and Kansas City. Odds are Pittsburgh will contend for the Super Bowl again, but don't be surprised if the Steelers suffer the same fate as three of the past seven Super Bowl winners and miss the playoffs altogether.

By Mike Brody of WagerWeb