Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2009 AFC North Champions

My early take...a conservative 12-4 and another division title.


STEELERS 2009 Schedule

Thursday, Sept. 10 -- TENNESSEE, 8:30 p.m. W 1-0
Towel stomping is background noise to Renegade welcoming the Champs onto the field.

Sunday, Sept. 20 -- at Chicago, 4:15 p.m. L 1-1
In first home game, Cutler surprises and leads da Bears to a win

Sunday, Sept. 27 -- at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. W 2-1
Bungles have full roster, but Palmer is still rusty

Sunday, Oct. 4 -- SAN DIEGO, 8:20 p.m. L 2-2
Chargers fly east but like late start, Rivers finally has decent game. Shaky 2-2 start.

Sunday, Oct. 11 -- at Detroit, 1 p.m. W 3-2
Steelers decide to celebrate SB XL win again, Lions figure why not join in

Sunday, Oct. 18 -- CLEVELAND, 1 p.m. W 4-2
Quinn/Anderson make like Tim Couch, scamper back to Cleve weakly

Sunday, Oct. 25 -- MINNESOTA, 4:15 p.m. W 5-2
Peterson does not becoem the first RB to single handedly beat the Steeler D

Monday, Nov. 9 -- at Denver, 8:30 p.m. L 5-3
Yonco fans get lathered up for their big prime time game, Ben has his one bad game, team falls to unsteady 5-3

Sunday, Nov. 15 -- CINCINNATI, 1 p.m. W 6-3
Skyline Chili doesn't travel well and neither does this equally motley mix

Sunday, Nov. 22 -- at Kansas City, 1 p.m. W 7-3
Cassel and Vrabel can't turn KC into NE West. Steelers enjoy the BBQ and scalping the Chiefs

Sunday, Nov. 29 -- at Baltimore, 8:20 p.m. L 7-4
League caves to Birdies demand to not play in Burgh in prime time and grants them a home game vs Champs. Steelers don't run scared or beg off but can't sweep the Birdies again.

Sunday, Dec. 6 -- OAKLAND, 1 p.m. W 8-4
Rivalry revived? Not when it was a long time ago, like when the Raiders were still in the NFL.

Thursday, Dec. 10 -- at Cleveland, 8:20 p.m. W 9-4
Brownies will target this prime time game as their biggest of the season, only leaving them even worse off after Steelers romp

Sunday, Dec. 20 -- GREEN BAY, 1 p.m. W 10-4
Green n' gold vs Black N' Gold possibly in the snow. Two pillars of the league square off but the Pack is in for a down year.

Sunday, Dec. 27 -- BALTIMORE, 1 p.m. W 11-4
Quick rematch keeps wounds from the loss fresh and Steelers inflict more damage this time around. Flacco doesn't finish the game, is Kordell still on the Ravens?

Sunday, Jan. 3 -- at Miami, 1 p.m. W 12-4
Victory over Birdies locked up division so this won't matter for the Steelers, and it won't for the Dolphs who will take a step back as teams figure out how to stop the wildcat.