2013 Record: 8-8

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 8.5

2014 Season Win Total Pick: 'Over'

This is a dangerous time for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last season marked their second straight 8-8 campaign and one of the league's flagship franchises is in danger of sliding into mediocrity, a realm the Steelers haven't occupied in nearly 30 years. They haven't made the playoffs since 2011 and haven't won a playoff games since the Super Bowl run of 2010.

The main area in need of improvement is the Pittsburgh defense. Last year's No. 13 ranked total defense was the lowest rated stop unit the Steelers have fielded since 1991 and snapped a streak of six straight years in the Top 5 and 13 straight seasons in the Top 10. That isn't disastrous, by any means, but it is not acceptable since so much of the identity of this franchise is tied up in that side of the ball.

Pittsburgh hasn't had a losing season since 2003. And that was their only sub-.500 campaign in the last 14 years. In fact, they have failed to reach eight wins just four times in the last 25 years. That level of consistency is impossible to ignore and has me looking at the Steel Curtain to return to form.

The schedule starts slowly for the Steelers. And I feel like if they can get off to a hot start they could have seven wins by the time their Week 12 bye rolls around. At the very least I see them with six in the bag and three home games in their pocket down the stretch.

Pittsburgh has some fundamental issues. Todd Haley and Ben Roethlisberger don't get along and the offense suffers because of it. The offensive line still tops out at mediocre. The linebacker corps is paper-thin and the stop unit, in general, isn't all that talented or experienced. But I will tab the Steelers for a nine-win season and I think they find a way to get on top of last year's win total.

Steelers Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Week 2: Thursday, Sept. 11, at Baltimore, 8:25 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, at Carolina, 8:30 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Week 7: Monday, Oct. 20, Houston, 8:30 p.m.

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, Indianapolis, 4:25 p.m.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, Baltimore, 8:30 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, at NY Jets, 1 p.m.

Week 11: Monday, Nov. 17, at Tennessee, 8:30 p.m.

Week 12: BYE

Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Robert will be releasing his 2014 NFL Futures Picks on Thursday, Aug. 14. Last year's top two picks (8-Unit Play on Arizona 'over' 5.5 wins and 6-Unit Play on Kansas City over 7.0 wins) both won easily and he has hit his top NFL Futures Play (rated 7.0 or higher) in four straight seasons. For more information visit his Insider's Page HERE.

Robert Ferringo is one of the best NFL handicappers in the world and is coming off one of the best football betting seasons in the 43-year history of Doc's Sports. Robert banked nearly $8,000 in profit for his football clients and won a stunning 62.1 percent of his NFL plays (95-58). Robert has won over 70 percent of his last 58 NFL side plays (41-17) and has posted six of seven winning NFL seasons. He has banked $17,400 in football profit, college and pro, over the last 20 months and he is excited about building on his staggering resume. Take advantage of our free, no-strings-attached $60 credit to use toward a purchase of Robert's football selections. You cannot afford to miss out on this great offer - click here.

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