Visions of deflated footballs are sure to be dancing in everyone’s head when the Steelers travel to Foxboro for the season opener against the Superbowl Champion New England Patriots Thursday night.
Following last week’s reinstatement of Tom Brady by a U.S. District Judge who over ruled the NFL’s suspension, the outcome of Thursday’s could be different than originally expected.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sportswriter Emeritus Rob Dvorchak said that while Brady’s appearance in the game will be a major factor, the Patriot’s problematic defense might give the Steelers a chance.
“These are the kinds of games the Steelers find a way to show up in.”
With both teams lacking in the defensive department, Dvorchak predicts a high-scoring game where no team will be able to stop the other. However, the Steelers will be playing without key pieces of their offense in Martavis Bryant, Le’Veon Bell, and Maurkice Pouncey.
Though Dvorchak noted that fans will be preoccupied with scores and fantasy leagues once the season kicks off tonight, the Deflate-gate scandal will still loom.
“It could be a cloud that hangs over them (the Patriots) for a time.”
With Commissioner Roger Goodell opting to forego his usual tradition of attending the NFL’s opening game, Dvorchak sees this as indication that there is still a lot going on behind the scenes---indications that the NFL is frazzling at the edges.
Though Deflate-gate will be on everyone’s mind during the season-opener, Steelers fans must focus on the season ahead.
Dvorchak predicts that this season could potentially be a rocky one for the Steelers due to division toughness and their mess of a defensive backfield.
The final verdict?
“This season’s going to be 8-8, plus or minus one either way.”
