The Pittsburgh Steelers imploded toward the end of the 2018 season, losing four of their last six games and losing by either a field goal or a touchdown. The implosion triggered the end of Antonio Brown’s tenure in the Steel City and ushered in a new era at wide receiver led by JuJu Smith-Schuster.

At running back, the new era already had begun. Le’Veon Bell didn’t play the entire season and eventually hit free agency. James Conner took over and it was almost like Pittsburgh didn’t skip a beat.

As the Steelers have been the dominant force in the AFC North for several years over the last decade, the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns now appear to have loaded rosters ready to control the division for years to come.

It’s time to see what Ben Roethlisberger can do with legitimate contenders in the division.

The defense will also be put to the test with several starters returning for the 2019 season. The team also added linebacker Mark Barron and defensive back Steven Nelson in free agency to give opponents some extra threats to worry about.

While the Steelers are still a contender to win the division, it will be interesting to see how they respond to a bit of a whirlwind of an offseason and how they recover from missing the playoffs in 2018.

Read below for more about the Steelers heading into the 2019 season.

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2019 SCHEDULE

In this Aug. 9, 2019, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin arrives for a news conference after an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Week	Date	Time (ET)	Channel	Opponent
1	Sept. 8	8:20 pm	NBC	@ New England Patriots
2	Sept. 15	1:00 pm	FOX	Seattle Seahawks
3	Sept. 22	4:25 pm	CBS	@ San Francisco 49ers
4	Sept. 30	8:15 pm	ESPN	Cincinnati Bengals
5	Oct. 6	1:00 pm	CBS	Baltimore Ravens
6	Oct. 13	8:20 pm	NBC	@ Los Angeles Chargers
7				Bye
8	Oct. 28	8:15 pm	ESPN	Miami Dolphins
9	Nov. 3	1:00 pm	CBS	Indianapolis Colts
10	Nov. 10	4:25 pm	FOX	Los Angeles Rams
11	Nov. 14	8:20 pm	FOX/NFL	@ Cleveland Browns
12	Nov. 24	1:00 pm	CBS	@ Cincinnati Bengals
13	Dec. 1	4:25 pm	CBS	Cleveland Browns
14	Dec. 8	4:25 pm	CBS	@ Arizona Cardinals
15	Dec. 15	1:00 pm	CBS	Buffalo Bills
16	Dec. 22	1:00 pm	CBS	@ New York Jets
17	Dec. 29	1:00 pm	CBS	@ Baltimore Ravens

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster lines up against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)

QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: James Conner
WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster
DE: Cameron Heyward
LB: T.J. Watt
LB: Bud Dupree
CB: Joe Haden

STEELERS DRAFT PICKS

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) hands off to running back Benny Snell (24) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Round 1, Pick 10: Devin Bush, LB
Round 3, Pick 66: Diontae Johnson, WR
Round 3, Pick 83: Justin Layne, CB
Round 4, Pick 122: Benny Snell Jr., RB
Round 5, Pick 141: Zach Gentry, TE
Round 6, Pick 175: Suttin Smith, LB
Round 6, Pick 192: Isaiah Buggs, DE
Round 6, Pick 207: Ulysses Gilbert III, LB
Round 7, Pick 219: Derwin Gray, T

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