Pro Football Focus projects Steelers as top team in AFC

Yesterday, we unveiled our first run of NFC projections for the 2016 season. Today, things turn over to the AFC, where the top few teams have remained near the front of the pack for the past few seasons. For some of those teams, there are reasons to be concerned, which leaves room for a sleeper to make an impact in the playoffs. While plenty can change between now and the start of the season, here is how I expect each AFC team’s schedule to shake out.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (projected record: 13-3)

Entering the 2015 season playoffs, the Steelers were the team that no one wanted to face. It took Peyton Manning’s best game of the second half of the season to knock the Steelers out, but the team should be improved in 2016. Le’Veon Bell was the highest-graded running back in the league before he went down with injury, and is likely to be the best next season, as well. At center, they bring back a healthy Maurkice Pouncey, who was a top-five center in 2014, and was replaced by Cody Wallace, who was a bottom-five center in 2015. If the Steelers can just stay healthy, they have the most talent among AFC teams that are likely to be postseason competitors.

READ MORE: https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-steelers-own-top-spot-in-first-2016-afc-projections/

Not what I wanted to see. The curse of advance statistics nerds.

This isn't good. Steelers have been one of the worst teams I have ever seen when they are frontrunners. Let's hope they channel the 70s team and live up to the hype.

SUPERBOWL!