are we on the upswing

the ravens and browns and even the bengals to me have taken a down turn. their QB's are aging and aquiring injuries that take their toll over time. o-lines have been having a lot of turnover because of salary and age along with performance issues. we have our share. big contracts and age hits every team.

i'm seeing those other afc north teams starting to head one way while the steelers are heading upwards. the QB issue will be one to watch but i like our future at this position right now. while these others decline. does anyone else feel this way or am i seeing this through black and gold colored glasses?

 

For me, that's the only way to look at it. Every new season is its own story. This time last season nobody was predicting a Seahawks/Patriots SB. You never know how that funny shaped ball is gonna bounce.


I think the Steelers are better on the back end of the defense. I have no idea how the front 7 will look since I keep reading about changes. No reason to think it will be worse though.
Offense goes as the OL goes. Just like every team every year. No reason to think ours will be worse.

 

"NFL Teams on the upswing" refers to teams that are improving their performance and trajectory.
They are moving in a positive direction after a period of struggle or mediocrity.

This typically describes teams that are:

Showing recent improvement — winning more games, performing better than in previous seasons, or climbing in the standings.
Building momentum — developing winning habits and confidence as the season progresses.
Developing talent — establishing a solid core of young or recently acquired players who are performing well together.
Improving in key areas — strengthening their offense, defense, coaching, or front office management.
Expected to compete soon — teams that analysts and fans believe are positioned to be contenders in the near future, even if they're not quite there yet.

Denver is a good example, as is NE.
On the downswing is probably Detroit after losing some of their coaching and players.. they were definitely an upswing team and they can prove it again.

Taking to the next step is the big question.

Where are the Steelers?
As much as I like Aaron Rogers, he's most definitely on the down side. So the Steelers at the moment, do not have a solution at QB.
This season can change all that if Mike McCarthy can get them all playing on the same page and a QB is rising.

 

what about the other teams in our division? lamar has had injuries. burrow has had injuries. neither is getting younger and these add up over the years. cincis WR's are also not young anymore and have had their share of injuries. both have had some turnover on the o-line as has cleveland. lamar has replaced the center leaving a question about the middle in his face pass rush that he doesn't deal well with when forcing the ball downfield. will he run as much with mounting injuries and age? burrow gets the ball out but has taken a beating while doing it. he's no spring chicken either at this point.

 

Rats and Bengals still have elite QBs that are in their primes. They should be around steady state and looking to get to at least the AFCC each year if their QBs stay healthy (their biggest obstacle IMO).

Browns just did a huge trade to sell the present for the future. This was a good call for them because their present sucks. And they need to be trying to get good after the worst contract in NFL history comes off the books. Currently, the last void year where Watson counts against their cap is 2028 ($51.5mm LOL!). If they can get a QB next draft, they obviously should. And they'll probably suck (so they'll pick high) and they'll get the Rams (probably late) 1st as ammo to move up. They'll still have the albatross of Watson's contract (although 2028 is the worst year left) for half the QBs rookie deal. But they could go all in at the end of that rookie deal to try to win something.

My guess is that with Rooney we'll keep trying to maximize our chance to win the next game / make the playoffs each season. Hoping that we'll fall ass-backward into a QB like we did with Ben. So not on the upswing IMO. Kind of around the same...but probably getting slightly worse every year as guys get older. If AR gets hurt this year (especially if it happens early), we're likely going to be pretty bad. Worst case is that we're in the playoff hunt and he gets hurt late so we miss and end up picking at 18 or whatever the highest non-playoff pick is.

I don't see how you think we're getting better right now. I think there's very little chance we repeat as division champs. Without any real plan for QB beyond this season, I don't think we could be considered to be on the upswing. The most likely outcome is that AR retires after this year and that our 6th and 3rd round picks at QB end up not being NFL starters. Hopefully we hit on one of those long shots, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

Not according to the talking heads who have the Steelers finishing third again in the division .

 

Bengals and ravens have a higher ceilling but the steelers have a higher floor

 

You're saying Burrow is no spring chicken and that Lamar is aging but the Steelers are in great shape with a 43 year old QB? Unbelievable.

 

Are you still listening to those little voices in your head

 

This.

 

Problem with Pittsburgh isn't merely the age of Aaron Rodgers. The issue with Pittsburgh is both installing and adapting to new schemes across all three formations. Such seismic change is going to incur some severe growing pains. This is accounting for new personnel either. The early part of the schedule is favorable but far from a gimme. All the more reason Pittsburgh mist start fast within the first eight weeks.


As for the rest of the Division?! Lamar and Joe are still MVP Caliber threats not just to the division but the conference at large. Dexter Lawrence might not be the same player he once was from a pass rush standpoint but given how much attention people still need to give him, he doesn't need to be; doubly so with Cincy's Defensive Upgrades. Baltimore will always be a tough out but how that Offensive Line performs without Tyler Linderbaum is worth monitoring; eight other Ravens departing no less.


In short?! Pittsburgh has a greater floor overall but Cincinnati's major defensive improvements combined with Baltimore still having the likes of Lamar and Derrick Henry make this Division far from won. It will come down to the wire; likely within the final two weeks.

 

Hey, those head voices can come up with some good ideas! Ok, maybe they're really bad ideas, but they're fun ideas!

 

Of course you are Mac....and what's so wrong with that?

 

For some reason I keep seeing out of the bottom the glasses

 

I think Bengals are on the upswing. I actually bet them to make the playoffs for the 1st time in I believe 3 years. I want Steelers to be on the upswing, but I have to see it 1st.
I do believe that we will be better on offense, or score more, but that doesn't mean winning. Again, I hope we are, but I have to see 1st, and not some fluff pieces that every team in the NFL are putting out.

 

Can McCarthy win those rock fights one score games like the Steelers have done in the past.

 

Winning ugly low scoring game is not the style for McCarthy

 

He has a 42 year old QB maybe he should be willing to win that way if needed .

 

He was 9-5 with Cooper Rush in Dallas.The same QB who was a true dumpster fire in Baltimore last year!

 

And get the Steelers in a one score playoff game!

 

That means nothing it wasn't enough for Dallas to keep him as HC .

 

I'm not saying just this year. The big picture as these teams age and we have very nice young core. I also think this old qb helps us for the future.

 

I'm not saying McCarthy is the best coach in the world, I didn't want him in January, but I hope for the best. But the cowboys were 9-5 with Cooper Rush and scoring at least 20 points in 10 of those games,so no I'm not worried about that.