AFC North: Playoff Predictions. Steelers must Decrease Turnovers
Dec 2, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham (center) is congratulated by holder Drew Butler (left) and tight end Health Miller (right) after kicking the game winning field goal with time running out against the Baltimore Ravens at M
As part of his ESPN playoff prediction series, NFL analyst Mark Schlereth projected the AFC North to once again put multiple teams in the NFL postseason, which would be the 6th-straight season that’s occurred.
Schlereth predicts the Cincinnati Bengals will make the playoffs for the third straight season, but has the Baltimore Ravens out, as he believes they will be unable to overcome their massive roster overhaul, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will take their place in the playoffs.
In order of Pittsburgh to get back to the playoffs, they’ll have to make drastic improvements in the turnover department, according to offensive coordinator Todd Haley:
"As the offensive coordinator, after the season is over we can’t look back on it and say, ‘Halfway through the year we had the second-fewest turnovers in the league and by the end of the year we were toward the back of the pack. That can’t happen. That plus-minus has to be up in the plus range. That’s proven."
Cleveland Browns Head Coach Rob Chudzinski has been impressed with backup running back Montario Hardesty, and thinks he can be a solid contributor on offense, especially in the passing game:
"He has put some muscle on and picked the offense up well. Just watching him on tape, and as a runner, he has the natural instincts and he is a slasher who has good vision. The thing I’ve really seen and been most impressed with is him catching the ball. I don’t think he has dropped a pass out here. He has really worked a lot on his hands."
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