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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers ended their season with a 45-42 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Here’s a recap of the season and what’s next: Season grade: Near perfection. The Steelers won 10 of their last 11 regular-season games on their way to Pittsburgh’s most victories in a season (13) since 2004. The Steelers shrugged off a slow start to finish third in total offense. Fifteen different players recorded a sack for a defense that set a single-season franchise record with 56 sacks, which led the NFL. A curious loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 3 and a slip to 27th in rushing yards allowed per carry were blemishes in an otherwise banner season for Pittsburgh.  Season in review: It would be impossible to assess the Steelers' season without taking into account the heartbreak and adversity the team fought through. From Ryan Shazier's severe spinal injury to Le'Veon Bell avoiding training camp because of a lack of a long-term deal to an internal flap over a national anthem gesture, the Steelers' locker room seemed to grow more united as the season progressed.
Biggest play of the season: JuJu Smith-Schuster's 97-yard touchdown catch against the Detroit Lions in Week 8. The offense looked poised for a midseason funk until quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit a streaking Smith-Schuster over the middle of Ford Field. The play tied the franchise record for the longest from scrimmage and also marked the coming-out party for Smith-Schuster, who finished his rookie season with 917 yards and seven touchdowns. He said it: "We've been looking for the bigger picture -- that's get to the playoffs and get to the Super Bowl. That's the only thing that we really worry about. Everything else on the outside, especially things we can't handle, we don't really put too much interest in that." -- Le'Veon Bell Key offseason questions:Biggest draft need: Inside linebacker. Drafting a potential successor to Roethlisberger would be prudent, but the loss of Shazier leaves a major hole in the middle of the defense. Pittsburgh needs a talented young player to pair with LB Vince Williams. Free-agency targets: Figuring out Bell's future will be crucial. The Steelers could look to free agency for inside linebacker, but the talent pool is mostly unimpressive. Perhaps safety help from a veteran such as Lamarcus Joyner or Kenny Vaccaro would add speed and playmaking on the back end. Loaded team returning: Assuming Bell and Roethlisberger both return, the Steelers will head into the offseason and the draft with all but one starting position filled. Key positions such as offensive line, defensive line and wide receiver look set up for years to come. Going deep: The Steelers' secondary gave up 10 pass plays of at least 40 yards in the second half of the season. Cornerback Joe Haden was injured for five of those eight games. Limiting the deep ball will be an emphasis in 2018.
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