Things looked great for the Steelers entering the 2009 NFL season. Coming off an amazing Super Bowl victory, the team looked as strong as ever before, having maintained most of the pieces from last year’s team.

The offense in Pittsburgh looks as good as it ever has. Backing up Willie Parker are two strong running backs in Mewelde Moore and second year player Rashard Mendenhall. They return a strong group of players out wide as well.

Ben Roethlisberger was coming off of another successful season as the team’s quarterback. Then, of course, there was the team’s defense. The Steel Curtain, one of the most dangerous and efficient defensive units in the NFL.

The Steelers looked strong during their season opener, with a solid win over the Tennessee Titans. Both defensive units excelled during this game, but Pittsburgh was just a little bit stronger, winning the game by a few points and starting off its season on a great note.

08′ proved to be a great year, when the Steelers had the toughest schedule in the NFL and managed to overcome adversity and win the championship. This year’s schedule isn’t as tough as last season, and this could prove to be a blessing if the Steelers can get on the same page.

Unfortunately, the Steelers were dealt some adversity during this game. Troy Polamalu, one of the team’s strongest defenders (and one of the league’s best defenders) was injured during the game and is expected to miss several weeks (as many as six) with this injury. The Steelers will definitely feel his loss, and have already felt it.

Does the absence of Troy Polamalu hurt the team this much? We’ll have to wait and see. Anytime a pro bowl player is missing, it’s usually a major blow.

If the Steelers offense can maintain some consistency - letting the defense make plays and create turnovers, the Steelers will be back in the driver’s seat in the AFC North.

Look no further for the best Steelers forums at RootZoo Sports. Make sure to play their sports futures and see where you stand compared to the rest of the competition.

Tags: football games //