Pittsburgh Steelers’ fans are used to being envied. The Steelers are an almost perennial playoff team and have a record six Super Bowl trophies, including two titles since 2005. This success means that their fans will be fairly unaccustomed to the dark cloud hanging over Pittsburgh this offseason.

Not only did the Steelers miss out on the playoffs, but they also saw two of their divisional rivals, the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, make the postseason, with the former eventually lifting the Vince Lombardi trophy. Throw into the mix the aging defense, inconsistent offense and salary cap constraints, and you can see the challenge that lays ahead for the Steelers’ front office.

Pittsburgh may not have been at their vintage best at any point last season, the loss of Ben Roethlisberger for several games due to injury was almost directly responsible for their omission from the playoffs. If the importance of keeping Roethlisberger upright and healthy wasn’t clear before, it certainly is now.

By drafting David DeCastro and Mike Adams last year, General Manager Kevin Colbert will be fairly confident he has a good, young offensive line developing, especially with the likes of Maurkice Pouncey and Marcus Gilbert already on the roster. If Colbert can find the cap space, a far from easy task, he may look to add a veteran guard in free agency and add some much needed experience to the unit.

Indeed, finding salary space will be an unenviable challenge for Colbert, with Pittsburgh’s top 10 salaries currently accounting for just over $100 million. The consequences of this will almost certainly see wide receiver Mike Wallace hit free agency, and unless serious salary cap sacrifices are made, the Steelers will struggle to enthuse youth into their ageing defense in free agency.

Pittsburgh’s arch-rivals, the Ravens, have had similar issues in recent years, coping with an ageing defense and relatively little cap room. As much as Steelers’ fans will not want to hear it, they could learn a lot from the Ravens, and their GM Ozzie Newsome, who have arguably coped with these issues much better than the Steelers.

Pittsburgh defensive veterans Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor, James Harrison and Brett Keisel are all now well into their 30s and will account for nearly $40 million in cap space in 2013.

Offensively, the loss of Bruce Arians as offensive coordinator last season and the arrival of Todd Haley, hurt the Steelers. The deep threat of Wallace was rarely used and Pittsburgh were uncharacteristically poor in their running game, ranked 26^th in the NFL. This was certainly not helped by the mercurial form of the Steelers’ running backs, with no back in particular shining consistently throughout the season.

Once again, Colbert will be limited as to what he can do offensively in free agency. Along with Head Coach Mike Tomlin, he will need to decide whether or not there is a running back currently with the Steelers of starting quality, whilst a slot receiver in the mould of Wes Welker would be a perfect fit for Haley’s offense, but neither will come cheap, and instead may be looked for in the draft.

Even with all the challenges that face the Steelers in this offseason, a team which features a player of Roethlisberger’s quality at quarterback, and a coach as talented as Tomlin, will undoubtedly be competitive next season. With the team continuing to age on defense however, this offseason, and specifically the draft, could prove to be critical in ensuring long-term competitiveness with both the Ravens and the Bengals in the AFC North.

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The AFC North was undoubtedly one of the most competitive divisions in the National Football League last season with three teams making it to the playoffs. With only the AFC West seemingly more competitive, where literally any of the four teams could win the division, expect a lot of focus this season to be on the AFC North.

Whilst both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens remain powerhouses in the AFC, and the Cincinnati Bengals have continued to grow and improve, it is hard to see a repeat of these three teams making it to playoffs again this year due to them facing a much harder schedule than last year. That being said, anything other than at least two teams qualifying from this division seems fairly inconceivable at the moment given the relative strengths of the other AFC divisions.

Given how competitive the division will be this season, there is perhaps only one outcome which can be guaranteed at this point – the Cleveland Browns will finish bottom of the division. Sorry Cleveland fans but it’s an inescapable fact that the Browns are a considerable way behind their divisional rivals.

Things aren’t all doom and gloom for the Browns however as they took strides in the offseason towards putting themselves into contention in the coming years. The arrivals of Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden potentially solve their running back and quarterback issues, whilst Josh Gordon has impressed in preseason and could form a productive combination with Greg Little at the wide receiver position. Don’t expect immediate results, but things are progressing in Cleveland and there is a distant light at the end of the tunnel.

The Ravens, reigning AFC North champions, will have a difficult task to retain their status, but should have enough about them to see of the challenges from the Steelers and Bengals. Baltimore have taken big steps towards reinvigorating their defense and if you look beyond defensive talismans Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, then they boast one of the youngest defenses in the NFL, expelling the belief the Ravens are an ageing defense.

The loss of Terrell Suggs for the majority of the season will be difficult to cope with as it remains to be seen whether or not top draft pick Courtney Upshaw will be able contribute to the pass rush in a similar fashion, leaving an uncharacteristic amount of pressure on the Baltimore offense. Fortunately for Ravens’ fans, Flacco and the offense seem to be flourishing with their new found responsibility. Preseason isn’t always the best measure of teams ability, but Flacco looked in scintillating form in the new no-huddle offense, finding targets with ease as Baltimore boast perhaps the best receiving corps in their short history.

The most intriguing battle within the division is likely going to be who grabs the second spot, and likely make it to the playoffs, the veteran Steelers or the youthful Bengals. Pittsburgh are probably current favorites, despite the losses of both James Farrior and Aaron Smith from last season’s roster and the holdout in preseason of star wide receiver Mike Wallace. They have a wealth of veteran experience and have a track record of being able to win when adversities seem piled up against them. They have also strengthened their weakest area, the offensive line, with the additions of David DeCastro and Mike Adams in the draft, something which should be beneficial for Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh’s passing game.

Cincinnati on the other hand have improved significantly over the offseason, specifically bolstering their offensive line and secondary with Kevin Zeitler and Dre Kirkpatrick respectively, whilst second year players Andy Dalton and A. J. Green have improved not only as individuals, but also as a combination. They were also proficient in free agency, making the most of their cap space, bringing in the likes of Terence Newman and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

The resolution of who finishes higher, Pittsburgh or Cincinnati, will likely come down to the two matches between the sides, and as exciting as it would be to see the Bengals upset the stranglehold the Steelers and Ravens have on the AFC North, the experience that Pittsburgh have will likely be enough to see off Cincinnati. The Ravens have taken steps towards injecting youth into what was seen as an ageing team, Pittsburgh will seriously have to consider doing likewise if they are to maintain their status as an elite team and keep above Cincinnati in the AFC North hierarchy.

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Although the Pittsburgh Steelers have had one of the most vaunted defenses in the NFL in recent years, their offensive performances arguably deserve even more credit when considering their glaring weakness – the offensive line.

Pittsburgh took significant steps towards addressing this issue in the first two rounds of the draft, bringing in two potential starters in guard, David DeCastro, and tackle, Mike Adams. They will also have high hopes for linebacker, Sean Spence, their third round draft pick, who will bring some much needed youth to an aging defense.

Due to a lack of cap space the Steelers were unable to make any serious additions to their roster in free agency and were unable to bring back defensive veterans, Aaron Smith and James Farrior. Along with neither Farrior nor Smith returning, defensive stars James Harrison, Ike Taylor, Casey Hampton and Troy Polamalu are all well into their 30’s and questions have been raised about how effective the defense can be this year.

With the defense aging and the general development of the NFL into a passing-orientated league, focus will be firmly upon Ben Roethlisberger and the offense. Although ‘Big Ben’ is undoubtedly one of the best quarterbacks in the league when he escapes the pocket, and has shown incredible durability when you consider how often he takes hits, he needs an offensive line which will be able to keep him upright and allow him to remain healthy throughout the season.

The offensive line hasn’t been at its best this preseason, perhaps unsurprisingly, given the turnover of personnel, but both DeCastro and Adams have huge potential at their respective positions and do have the ability to start in the NFL. It may take them a few regular season games to get fully up to speed with the professional game, but expect Roethlisberger to have much better pass protection this season than he did in 2011.

Unfortunately for Head Coach, Mike Tomlin, the defense and offensive line are not his only concerns heading into the season, but also his receiving corps, which may be without their best deep threat in Mike Wallace. The star wide receiver has yet to report to training camp, and although the Steelers still have a good unit of receivers including Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, his presence has been missed in the preseason games.

Pittsburgh is a team that no matter the adversities they face, they always seem to be competitive, and don’t expect this season to be any different. They face challenges on both the offense and defense but should still be able to finish the season with a record somewhere in the region of 9-7, and will consider anything other than a trip to the playoffs as unsuccessful. Unfortunately for Steelers fans, they could be facing another season of finishing below arch-rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, and could find themselves in a battle with the Cincinnati Bengals for the second spot in the AFC North.

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New York and Pittsburgh, U.S.A. – PepsiCo announced on July 23, 2012, a multi-year relationship with the Pittsburgh Steelers to be the franchise’s exclusive non-alcoholic beverage, salty snacks and sports fuel provider. The deal marks the Steelers first partnership with PepsiCo’s expanded portfolio, which includes iconic brands such as Pepsi, Frito-Lay and Gatorade.

As part of the new sponsorship, PepsiCo will gain exclusive selling, dispensing and serving rights at Heinz Field; fixed stadium signage; venue and team sponsor assets; integration into the team’s mobile, TV and digital assets; and local media and retail promotional opportunities. The stadium conversion will be complete by the start of the Steelers’ 2012 season.

PepsiCo will also be introducing a limited-edition commemorative Pepsi MAX can in honor of the Steelers’ 80th anniversary, available throughout Pennsylvania beginning in the fall.

“We can’t wait to begin working closely with the Steelers, one of the NFL’s most iconic franchises, and be part of such a celebrated team with some of the league’s most passionate fans,” said PepsiCo North America Beverages Chief Marketing Officer Simon Lowden. “Our vast portfolio of food and beverage products will bring a lot of enjoyment to the Steelers’ community and we’re looking forward to partnering closely with the team on new initiatives. The Steelers organization is topnotch and shares our creative marketing vision.”

“We are excited about our new partnership with PepsiCo – a world-class company with a unique understanding of sports and what football fans want,” said Steelers President Art Rooney II. ”I’m sure our fans will enjoy the many promotions that we will have through our relationship with PepsiCo, which this year includes a commemorative 80th Season can that will be part of celebrating a significant year in Steelers history. We are thrilled to start this new partnership and look forward to making it entertaining for our fans to enjoy all of PepsiCo’s products.”

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The 49ers (11-3) finally returned to prominence and received a nationally televised game at home and what happened? Their stadium went nearly pitch black only minutes before kickoff of their eventual 20-3 victory over the Steelers (10-4).

“I just feel like San Francisco took a big step to show the NFL and to show the state of California that they need a new stadium,” said Steelers safety Ryan Clark. “I think it was a very strategic move, and Candlestick may be no more.” Don’t worry, Ryan. The 49ers hope to open a new stadium in Santa Clara in time for the 2014 season.

Thankfully an earthquake did not cause all the commotion. An overhead blimp actually captured video of a generator just outside Candlestick Park suddenly exploding and immediately causing the power outage. Fans had to sit through about a 20 minute delay before football would be played.

Just when the situation appeared to be resolved – it reappeared. The majority of the lights went out again during an early second quarter TV timeout. This would delay the action for about 16 more minutes. No further issues afterwards, though. Losses by the Texans and Ravens on Sunday would give Pittsburgh the #1 seed in the AFC with a win on Monday night.

That gave Ben Roethlisberger extra motivation to give it a go after being questionable all week with a high ankle sprain suffered against Cleveland. But Pittsburgh might have been better off with backup Charlie Batch. Big Ben showed a considerable limp from the outset and suffered greatly from his inability to extend plays with his legs as he so often does.

Uncharacteristic interceptions by Roethlisberger also resulted. Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson, and Tarell Brown all recorded one pick each on the night and made Roethlisberger’s 330 passing yards obsolete. Rogers’ interception at the goal line on Pittsburgh’s opening drive foreshadowed another great defensive effort by San Francisco.

The 49ers #1 scoring defense gave up only 3 points, while their top-ranked unit against the run set an NFL record by not allowing a single touchdown on the ground 14 games into the season. “I also want to recognize our defense,” said coach Jim Harbaugh. “NFL record for not allowing a rushing touchdown in 14 games. I think that is huge.”

Terrible clock management by Pittsburgh down 6-0 toward the end of the half left them with nothing after passing up a 55 yard field goal attempt. The Steelers were finally able to get on the board with about 6 minutes remaining in the third. A 50 yard field goal cut San Francisco’s lead in half at 6-3. Despite offensive struggles Pittsburgh was still right in the ball game.

That’s when the 49ers realized it was time to go for the kill. Alex Smith would lead San Francisco on a 79 yard touchdown drive in response to the Pittsburgh field goal. Smith remained poised and threw a one yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis after he was ruled out of bounds and short of the goal line on the previous play.

Smith only had 181 yards and 1 touchdown, but did not turn the ball over and cost his team. Pittsburgh went to a no-huddle offense down 13-3 with 3:44 remaining in the third. They moved the ball efficiently but missed a 48 yard field goal with less than a minute remaining. The Steelers defense gave the offense an opportunity to make it a one possession game until Justin Smith stripped Roethlisberger and recovered the fumble at the Pittsburgh 23.

Smith finished the play after rookie linebacker Aldon Smith initially hit Roethlisberger. Two and a half sacks on the night gave him the team’s rookie record with 13. There was still hope for Steelers Nation after San Francisco had to settle for a field goal, but a leaping penalty on the kick gave the 49ers a fresh set of downs.

Two plays later Frank Gore would run it in from five yards out and give his team a 20-3 lead with 9:06 remaining. The 49ers defense remained relentless and held on easily. Pittsburgh will now continue its pursuit of the AFC North crown over the last two weeks. Meanwhile, the 49ers keep making their case as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

“I think we showed the world we can play the game of football on a national stage,” said Davis. “At the end of the day that’s what it’s all about: respect.”

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The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) kept up their push for a home playoff spot with a 14-3 victory over AFC North rivals the Cleveland Browns (4-9). Despite putting together a strong opening drive, with quarterback Colt McCoy passing accurately off of play action, and hitting receivers Evan Moore and Josh Cribbs for big gains, they were stopped short of the touchdown by a dominant Steelers defense, and had to settle for a field goal.

Pittsburgh responded by putting together a similarly impressive drive which culminated in an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jericho Cotchery, largely thanks to Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to keep plays alive for longer than almost any other quarterback.

Turnovers then dominated the game, firstly with veteran receiver Hines Ward fumbling and losing possession for the Steelers, then McCoy threw a pass straight into the hands of Troy Polamalu to turnover any advantage Cleveland had gained. Pittsburgh then choked up another turnover, this time Heath Miller fumbling after a reception, all of which was made worse by a seemingly game-ending ankle injury to Roethlisberger.

But true to his personality, ‘Big Ben’ came back onto the pitch, and wrapped up the game for the Steelers late in the fourth quarter when he threw a 79-yard touchdown pass to in-form wide receiver Antonio Brown, who finished the game with 151 yards on five receptions.

Pittsburgh linebacker Jason Worilds also had a good game, collecting two sacks and a forced fumble as he continues to put in the performances which are beginning to suggest he may be the long term replacement for James Harrison when he eventually retires.

The Browns meanwhile have little to be pleased about, McCoy, a quarterback under pressure, threw two interceptions and no touchdowns, and questions will persist over whether McCoy is the long term answer for this franchise. In addition to their stuttering passing game, their running game proved no more fruitful, with neither Chris Ogbonnaya, Peyton Hillis or Montario Hardesty rushing for over 31 yards.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) kept pace with divisional rivals the Baltimore Ravens with an emphatic victory over the Cincinnati Bengals (7-5), effectively ending the Bengals’ hopes of winning the A.F.C. North.

The Bengals were still without key players Carlos Dunlap and Nate Clements for their important trip to Heinz Field, whilst the Steelers were boosted by the news that Troy Polamalu was able to play after fears he had suffered a concussion in their previous game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The first quarter ended scoreless as both teams failed to make anything happen concerning offense, and both defenses performed well, suffocating anything the opposition offense had to offer. Cincinnati came the closest to breaking the deadlock when Jermaine Gresham thought he collected a touchdown pass from Andy Dalton; however, the play was called back for a false start.

The Bengals then thought they had taken the lead when they successfully kicked a field goal a minute later, but again faced disappointment in the form of penalization for a delay of game, as well as the moment the Steelers blocked the subsequent kick.

The game exploded into life in the second quarter, however, with Rashard Mendenhall rapidly moving Pittsburgh into a 14-point lead with two rushing touchdowns, followed by Mike Wallace grabbing a 12-yard pass for the Steelers’ third touchdown in a span of just over four minutes.

The Bengals sparked hopes of a comeback when rookies Dalton and A. J. Green linked up for a 11-yard touchdown pass, but these hopes were soon extinguished when Antonio Brown ran in a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown just before the half, extending Pittsburgh’s lead back to 21 points.

Ben Roethlisberger wrapped up the scoring in the third quarter when he found Wallace for a 19-yard touchdown pass and the receivers’ second touchdown of the game. Roethlisberger went on to finish with 176 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions on his 23 attempted passes.

Another standout Steeler was defensive linchpin James Harrison, who looked quite the frightening form as he registered three sacks on the usually well-protected Dalton. Cornerback Ike Taylor was also in imperious form for Pittsburgh, putting in seven tackles as well as picking up an interception, as he helped the Steelers to a strong defensive performance.

The Bengals, who have enjoyed a good season, have now lost both their games against the Steelers and are unlikely to be able to challenge either the Steelers or the Ravens at the top of the A.F.C. North, but with outstanding youngsters like Dalton and Green, Head Coach Marvin Lewis can be optimistic about Cincinnati’s chances of upsetting those perennial power houses in one of the most competitive divisions of the N.F.L.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) suffered a devastating loss to the Baltimore Ravens (6-2) during a 23-20 defeat to their bitter rivals at Heinz Field, as they gave up top spot in the AFC North.

Whilst the Ravens were still missing wide receiver Lee Evans, guard Ben Grubbs was able to return to duty, and they had no new major injury concerns, unlike the Steelers.  Pittsburgh did welcome back James Harrison after he recovered from his eye injury, but were without linebackers LaMarr Woodley and James Farrior for this crucial match.

Baltimore almost made the perfect start when Ray Rice found a hole on the Ravens first possession, and ran for a 76-yard touchdown, only for a flag to be thrown for holding by wide receiver Torrey Smith. The Ravens did take the lead soon after however, with the Steelers holding them out despite being on the one-yard line, and Baltimore had to make do with a field goal from Billy Cundiff.

Both teams proceeded to trade field goals and ended the second quarter with Baltimore leading 9-6. As predicted, both teams’ defenses seemed to be dominating the play, and limiting the opposition to field goals.

With the Steelers advancing down the field, and finding a couple of big gains through the air, it felt like only a matter of time before Ben Roethlisberger found someone for a touchdown pass, but then the veteran quarterback threw a ball straight at Terrel Suggs, and the linebacker picked up the interception.

The drive following Suggs’ interception was turned into a touchdown when Ike Turner was called for pass interference on Anquan Boldin, which brought the Ravens to the 10-yard line, and Rice had no trouble finding a hole and getting the touchdown, making it 16-6 to Baltimore.

Pittsburgh hit back in similar fashion however, going on an 80-yard drive, which culminated in Rashard Mendenhall going over for a one-yard touchdown, and cutting the Ravens lead to three points with most of the fourth quarter left to play.

Roethlisberger then put the Steelers into the lead for the first time on the night, passing on the run to Mike Wallace for a 35-yard touchdown pass, making the score 20-16 to Pittsburgh. The Ravens were not finished though, and went on a 92-yard drive, and Joe Flacco found Smith in the endzone for a 26-yard touchdown pass, securing the win for the visitors with just eight seconds left to play.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin will be disheartened with the loss, but can be content with the performance of Roethlisberger, as the quarterback continues from where he left off against the Patriots last week.

The Ravens, who have now recorded a sweep over the Steelers this year, will be encouraged by the return of Grubbs and the solidity that he brought to an offensive line which has been heavily criticised so far this season. Flacco’s proficiency on third down, and his contributions to the game-winning drive, will also have pleased Offensice Coordinator Cam Cameron, even if there are still large question marks over the quarterback.

The Steelers will head into Week 10 having to play AFC North surprise package the Cincinnati Bengals, and will need to maintain their focus after emotionally charged matches with rivals New England Patriots and the Ravens. The Ravens, meanwhile, will travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks, and will be fairly confident of getting the win but will need to ensure they do not slip up in the same way they did two weeks ago against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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