EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Steelers open their 88th NFL season tonight here against the Giants, and our football staff at DK Pittsburgh Sports predicts the game:
Dale Lolley: If you just based this off last year's stats, it would look like the Giants might have a chance. But you can't look at anything the Steelers did offensively in 2019 without Roethlisberger and carry it over. Their offense will look much different, not only from a personnel standpoint, but in terms of the pre-snap motion and other wrinkles added during the offseason. The biggest difference is the infusion of speed with Chase Claypool, Eric Ebron and Anthony McFarland. The Giants made few changes on defense and, while the defensive line is solid, the second and third levels are among the NFL's worst. The Steelers should take advantage of that. And they'll force Jones into some mistakes with their pressure. Steelers, 27-13
Christopher Carter: The Giants have a tall order of working with an offensive line that's still getting used to each other in front of a second-year quarterback in Jones under a new head coach. All that with no rookie camp for players such as rookie tackle Thomas do not add up well against a defense that's led the NFL in sacks for three seasons and in turnovers for 2019. Combine that with a questionable Giants defense to Roethlisberger's return and you have a recipe for a solid Steelers win. Steelers, 26-9
Ramon Foster: I’ve got Steelers, easy. I hate to say it, but ... Jones still has to prove it to me. Who’s he throwing to there now? Golden Tate, if he plays? And he’s going against Haden and Steven Nelson on the outside of this secondary? All those guys coming at him up front? There’s just too much there, both defensively and offensively, for New York to handle. I could be wrong, because everybody’s a little raw right now coming out of camp with no action. But I see Pittsburgh taking this. Steelers, 27-7
Tom Reed: Nobody knows what to expect in an opener like no other, but the Steelers have a few key advantages. They are a veteran team with a seasoned coach welcoming back an established quarterback. Meanwhile, Judge will be making his head coaching debut without the benefit of any preseason. Containing Barkley will be key to stopping the Giants, but Engram is also a concern. For the Steelers, all eyes will be on Roethlisberger and whether the red-zone offense — brutal a season ago — will improve with Claypool and Ebron. Steelers, 24-14
Dejan Kovacevic: If we're being blunt, it's been a summer-long tiptoe about these Steelers, almost entirely because of unwarranted uncertainty regarding Roethlisberger. He's fine. And with his return, the additions of Claypool, Ebron and Matt Canada, the offense will be fine, too. The defense will be at least in the range of what it was in 2019, when it was the NFL's best. So what am I missing here? That the Giants can execute their passing game about as well as they can defend the opponents' passing game? Come on. Steelers, 38-10
Feel free to share your own picks in comments!