Vegas: Steelers' 2012 over/under -- 10 wins
They have the Steelers with near identical odds as the Ravens:
Pittsburgh Steelers
Over 10 wins -125
Under 10 wins -105
Baltimore Ravens
Over 10 wins -110
Under 10 wins -120
Cincinnati was placed at 7.5 wins and Cleveland rounded out the bottom feeders along with Jacksonville and Indianapolis at 5.5 wins.
The Packers and Patriots led the league projections with 12 wins.
Meanwhile, the excellent Jameson Hensley of ESPN's AFC North Blog (and former Baltimore Sun Ravens beat writer) puts together 2012 AFC North dream/nightmare scenarios for each team in the division.
The Steelers dream scenario: 13-3; Nightmare: 7-9. Baltimore's? Exactly the same. Cincinnati's is 11-5 or 6-10 and little sister of the poor Cleveland's dream season would be 7-9 and a nightmare would be 3-13.
Some excerpts:
Steelers' 13-3 dream scenario: "Roethlisberger thrives in Todd Haley's offense much like Kurt Warner did. The biggest change is a quicker release, which will allow Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders to show off their elusiveness and make yards after the catch. The offensive line becomes the best in the AFC North with center Maurkice Pouncey staying healthy, right tackle Marcus Gilbert continuing to develop and rookies David DeCastro and Mike Adams living up to expectations."
Steelers' 7-9 nightmare scenario: "The key to any Steelers season is the health of Roethlisberger. While the Steelers' offensive line has the potential to rank among the best, this year could be a transitional one as well. Roethlisberger could take a good number of hits behind a line that starts two rookies and moves tackle Willie Colon to guard. Losing Roethlisberger will result in a losing season. Pittsburgh would then have to depend more on a running game without Mendenhall. Isaac Redman has shown flashes, but he is a question mark as a featured back."
More news & notes from around the AFC North and NFL:
- Baltimore: Bernard Pollard already says the Ravens' defense is unstoppable. Not a week of OTA's gone by and already bulletin board material.
- Baltimore: The story in Baltimore is all about who isn't around for OTA's.
- Baltimore: Billy Cundiff not dwelling on missed kick. Scott Norwood and Bill Buckner say the same thing.
- Baltimore: Own a Ravens' Super Bowl ring.
- Cleveland: Browns' beat writer says its pretty clear Weedon will start at QB. Somewhere, Kelly Holcomb laughs.
- Cleveland: McCoy, once starter of the future, could be really good backup of the present. Somewhere, Tim Couch laughs.
- Cincinnati: Andy Dalton confident about his arm strength. No kidding. It'd be news if he said he wasn't.
- Washington: RG3 to become first player in NFL history to have Roman numerals on jersey. Roman Gabriel disagrees; Chad Ochocinco wishes he'd spelled his last name: LXXXV. Or VIII-V. Or something.
- Tebow: "As a quarterback, he’s one heck of a punt protector." It was once said that as a quarterback, Kordell Stewart was one heck of a punter.
- NFL: Perception of players as homophobic may be outdated. You mean to suggest that the media stereotypes? For shame.
- NFL: League mandates use of knee and thigh pads. No word yet on how that will help with chronic brain degeneration.
- NFL: Noted consumer of cocaine and hookers buys Super Bowl ring of noted consumer of cocaine and hookers.