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Redskins 2016 Season Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 1

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As the Washington Redskins get closer to the start of another season, Redskins.com will preview all 16 of the team's regular season games starting with today's look against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers once again were a playoff team last season, earning a 10-6 regular season record and a Wild Card Round victory over the Cincinnati Bengals before falling to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.

Last Game vs. Pittsburgh: Lost 27-12 on Oct. 28, 2012

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Pittsburgh's Key additions:** Signed TE Ladarius Green; Drafted CB Artie Burns (Miami), OT Jerald Hawkins (LSU)

Pittsburgh's Key subtractions: TE Heath Miller (retired), CB Cortez Allen (released; free agent), QB Michael Vick (free agent)

Pittsburgh's Pro Bowlers: WR Antonio Bryant, G David DeCastro, QB Ben Roethlisberger

The Washington Redskins will kick off the 2016 regular season with a nationally televised game, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football at FedExField in Week 1 action.

The matchup will be one of only three games on opening weekend that features two playoff teams from a season ago, as the Redskins, of course, won the NFC East while the Steelers earned a wild card playoff berth with a 10-6 record.

Pittsburgh will once again be led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is already entering his 13th NFL season.

For his career, the four-time Pro Bowler has thrown for just shy of 43,000 yards along with 272 touchdowns to 147 interceptions.

Last season, the Miami University threw for 3,938 yards and 21 touchdowns in 12 appearances.

Questions remain, though, as to who will be the running back behind Roethlisberger for the game against the Redskins.

Le'Veon Bell – who rushed for 1,361 yards in 2014 – is still in the process of returning from a torn ACL suffered in November.

If Bell isn't healthy enough to play, Pittsburgh would likely rely on 33-year-old DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for more than 900 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2015 season.

The game will also feature a marquee matchup between one of the league's best wide receivers against an elite cornerback, as the Steelers will bring out Antonio Brown against Josh Norman.

During the 2015 season, Brown totaled 136 receptions for 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns. In a 38-35 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 8, Brown caught 17 passes for 284 yards.

Defensively, Pittsburgh is looking to rebound from a season in which they allowed the third-most passing yards per game.

The Steelers selected University of Miami cornerback Artie Burns with the No. 25-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft – two selections after the Redskins' pick of Josh Doctson – and then added safety Sean Davis in the second round.

Among the returners from a front-seven that aided in the Steelers allowing just six rushing touchdowns last season are 14-year veteran James Harrison, Lawrence Timmons, Bud Dupree and Cameron Heyward. 

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