The Pittsburgh Steelers are predicted to be sitting pretty at 5-2 by Week 7, a wild early season run kicking off in just nine days with their home opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Forget those old predictions, this new game-by-game breakdown paints a picture of a strong start under Mike McCarthy, a run that could have Pittsburgh fans buzzing about what comes next.
Mike McCarthy’s Early Season Dominance
The Steelers’ path to 5-2 starts at home against the Atlanta Falcons, and honestly, if you wanted an easy Week 1 opponent, Atlanta is it. Their quarterback situation is an absolute disaster, with Tua Tagovailoa reportedly looking like a baby chasing bubbles in preseason and Michael Penix’s knees apparently held together by scotch tape and hope. The Falcons have *never* won a game in Pittsburgh, and that streak is predicted to continue with a 24-10 Steelers win.
Then comes a pivotal Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Expect a high-scoring tilt, but the Steelers are predicted to steal the first of two matchups against the Bengals, winning 31-28 and moving to 2-1. This is a huge early statement! Just a week later, on Thursday night at the Browns, the predictions say Mike McCarthy will end the Steelers’ long-standing struggles on Thursday Night Football. His squad is set to handily defeat a bad Browns team 23-6. This is a major shift from previous eras.
The good times keep rolling in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. Their loss to the Steelers last season reportedly kick-started a total downward spiral for the Colts. Their defense got much weaker over the offseason, and their offense is leaning way too heavily on Jonathan Taylor while lacking a true No. 1 receiver. Pittsburgh should absolutely win this one 27-19, pushing their record to a fantastic 4-1.
A Couple Road Bumps and a Paris Bounce-Back
It won’t all be smooth sailing, though. Week 2 sees the Steelers on the road at New England. They barely escaped Foxborough in 2025 with a win, even after forcing five turnovers. This time around, they won’t be so lucky, with the Patriots coming off a mini-bye. A 23-17 loss brings them to 1-1 early.
Then, after building up that 4-1 record, a close one in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is predicted to be a loss. While the forecast isn’t huge on Tampa in 2026, their draft class impressed, with Rueben Bain looking like an instant impact player and Ted Hurts potentially emerging as the No. 2 receiver. A tight 24-23 Buccaneers win puts Pittsburgh at 4-2.
But the Steelers don’t stay down for long! They are predicted to bounce back in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints in Paris. Even though the Saints were picked to win the NFC South, Pittsburgh should win 20-16 against a younger team that reportedly still has a somewhat low ceiling. This takes them to that impressive 5-2 record.
After hitting that 5-2 mark, the Steelers immediately face the Cleveland Browns again in Week 8. Can they keep the momentum going from such a strong opening stretch, especially with McCarthy making these kinds of impacts? The season’s just getting started, and it’s already looking wild in Pittsburgh.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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