The Pittsburgh Steelers have a tough schedule this year, especially on the road.
Unfortunately for Mike Tomlin and the boys, the first game on the docket isn't any cupcake affair. In fact, they'll have to travel into Sports Authority Field at Mile High to play Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Ironically, it's where the 2011 season ended as the Steelers' vaunted defense watched Tim Tebow throw for a career-high 316 yards.
As Neal Coolong of Behind The Steel Curtain points out, It will be very intriguing to see how Manning deals with two of the league's best pass-rushers in James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley right off the bat after missing a whole year due to his neck injury.
Coolong also raises another concern for the black and gold:
Perhaps more than anything, the concern rests with Denver's defense. It's a group that can really get after the passer, as we saw in the playoffs last season. Their secondary isn't the best but the activity of their front seven makes them a very difficult team to move on consistently.
This will be a great test for a revamped offensive line to show its improvement by containing Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil. With Rashard Mendenhall coming back from a torn ACL, Roethlisberger is even more critical to the team's success. He has to remain upright.
For more on the Steelers, please be sure to check out our blog Behind The Steel Curtain and SB Nation Pittsburgh for all the latest news and updates.