Madden 22: Our 2021 NFL season sim results in some wild predictions

Pittsburgh Steelers

7-10, 3rd place in AFC North

I have high hopes for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but apparently, Madden doesn’t think too much of them. The Steelers are no longer the most intimidating team in the AFC North, but they are still dangerous. They’ve still got talent and can compete with anyone.

But Ben Roethlisberger is getting up there in age and is no longer the player he was in his prime. In what could possibly be his final season with the Steelers and possibly in the NFL, Madden predicts Roethlisberger will throw for 4,406 yards, 35 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. A potential bright spot for fans, it looks like he stayed healthy the entire season.

The Steelers have a tremendously talented wide receiving group and Roethlisberger will definitely spread the ball around, according to Madden:

• Chase Claypool: 73 receptions, 1,109 yards, 12 TDs
• Eric Ebron: 71 receptions, 790 yards, 8 TDs
• Juju Smith-Schuster: 77 receptions, 771 yards, 6 TDs
• Diontae Johnson: 71 receptions, 743 yards, 3 TDs

There’s also the excitement of rookie running back Najee Harris. Madden predicts the rookie will rush for a respectable 783 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 590 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the air.

On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker T.J. Watt, who just signed a 4-years, $112 million extension, had a tremendously down year, recording just 4.5 sacks and one interception. Watt wasn’t the only one who struggled on defense as the unit as a whole allowed 6,303 total yards and 440 total points.