I find that curious that no one - I haven't seen a single prediction yet - that even puts the Steelers into the Super Bowl.  Yet, and no one has them on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.  So I find it rather curious that everyone expects the Steelers to make it into the playoffs, but no one expects them to make it into the Super Bowl.  I wonder why.

Reasons to agree.

1.  This cannot get enough emphasis.  The Steelers are an emotional team, led by an emotional coach.  There is going to be a "Super Bowl Hangover" and everyone knows it.  But can it really last for an entire season?  More over, assuming the Steelers do get into the playoffs, and the goal that they achieved last year is again tantalizingly within reach, will that same Hangover exist?  Maybe.  So that's probably reason number one to go against the Steelers.

2.  New England and Indy didn't get there last year, therefore this is their year.  Perhaps.  Both teams are certainly capable of getting there.  But, and I'll say this until I'm blue in the face, the Pats are now totally under the influence of Bill Belichick.  This means they'll have a great defense.  Their offense, on the other hand, will slowly become stodgy, because that's what Belichick thinks works.  Having Tom Brady at QB might change all of that, and Brady's certainly fired up enough to lead that Pats to the Super Bowl and beyond.  Indy too has plenty of talent and reasons to want to get to the promised land.  So sure, those two very talented teams with giant chips on their shoulders are good reasons to pick against the Steelers.

3.  Cincinnati is going to look to take poundSSS of flesh from the Steelers in their two games.  Don't underestimate this - the Bengals truly HATE the Steelers, and would love to put them into a literal hurt locker.  Can't underestimate emotions in this league when the talent levels are oh so close.

But there are good reasons to think that the Steelers could repeat.

1.  They return both starting line ups virtually intact.  Sure, they lost Antwaan Randle El, Kemo and others.  But they return one of the game's best offensive lines, the gritty and talented Hines Ward, Willie Parker and of course, Ben Roethlisberger.  On defense, they still have the same teeth-gnashing abilities they had last year.  This is a defense - especially under Dick LeBeau - that fears no offense nor its system.  LeBeau can figure out ways to defeat offenses, and the Steelers defense knows this.

2.  Should the Steelers make the playoffs, they know EXACTLY what it takes to win out.  You can't underestimate this - they'll have the knowledge that they CAN do it (unlike in past years where there were reasons for doubt), and they'll know HOW to do it.  The opponent won't matter - the Steelers will believe that playing their game will lead them to victory. 

3.  Ben Roethlisberger's maturity won't suddenly turn the Steelers into the next Greatest Show on Turf.  But it will open the playbook a great deal, and having to face a Steelers offense with a competent quarterback who (like Brady) spreads the ball around efficiently to his receivers will make defenses nuts.  This will make defending the Steelers offense far more difficult.

Granted, most observers of the NFL are figuring that the Steelers emotional edge is lost, and that the Pats, Colts and Bengals all have more emotional reasons for getting to the promised land.  But don't be surprised if this bunch of Steelers - especially led by the resilient Ben Roethlisberger - are able to get back into the Super Bowl.