2018 Pittsburgh Steelers Season

Season Summary: The 2018 Steelers were defined by turmoil as much as talent. Le'Veon Bell sat out the season in a contract dispute. James Conner filled in admirably, but the run game finished 31st in the league and put everything on Big Ben's shoulders. He responded with the best statistical season of his career, leading the NFL with 5,129 yds and a team record 34 TDs (15 of them to Antonio Brown), while JuJu Smith-Schuster broke out with 111 catches.

Pittsburgh started 7-2-1 and looked like a contender, but the season unraveled down the stretch. They lost 4 of their last 6, including crushing defeats to the Broncos, Raiders, and Saints, along with a home collapse against the Chargers that I attended. Outside of TJ Watt, the defense couldn't be trusted, breaking down in coverage and failing in critical moments.

The Steelers finished 9-6-1 and missed the playoffs in a season that felt wasted given the offensive firepower. Adding insult to injury, the late-season drama with Antonio Brown (who selfishly skipped the week 17 must-win against Cinci) marked the end of the "Killer B" era.