If you believe in DVOA we have a top 5 defense

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef/2019






what makes this more impressive is we are 25th in time of possession.

 

Steelers D is now good enough to win games vs anybody in AFC but Patriots and Chiefs with Mahomes. We haven't seen this much quality play from the D in 9 years.

 

they aren't shutdown like in years past but most defenses today aren't. they get takeaways and thats a sign of a great defense.

 

But make no mistake... we sure as hell ain't gonna beat Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in the playoffs. No way, no how.

 

Oh come on! You can never say never when talking about the NFL. Let me ask you a question? If we made it to that game would you watch? Assuming you said yes, why? if you know we would lose?

Brady could get hit by a bus! Fuchtner could get hit by a bus! The NFL could catch them cheating again and make them forfeit! There are plenty of reasons we could win!

 

of course because it will be in gillette... where brady magically has 5 td's and no picks. every fumble they have magically lands on another team mate who scores a td

 

Against weak strength of competition, who have we played but teams with a combined record of 8-23.....

 

Our losses are to teams 29-5 and one of the losses is because one of them had to lose....

 

I'd watch because I am a fan. Fans watch their teams play knowing they won't win. See Bungles games as current example.

 

those rankings include those top teams we played as well... ya know the pats/seahawks/niners/ravens... ravens, pats, niners are 3 top 5 teams.

 

I know that but the 4 teams we won against are 8-23..

 

In a one game situation any team can win regardless of stats, rankings, fans perceptions of the team, opposition faced, team record ect.

The Steelers and Pats won't be the same teams if they were to face off in the playoffs this year. How they perform in that game is what matters. The Steeler beat the Pats in the past and they can beat them again.

 

And the only winning team the Patriots beat is Buffalo, maybe their defensive rankings are inflated from playing all those bad teams .

 

We get sacks and turnovers. We wanted splash plays and we get them on defense.

offense just needs to not turtle and do better in the red zone

 

You forgot Brady handing the Refs hot chocolate before the game. You know how kind, caring, and hospitable Tom is.

 

I don't need stats to see that this is a top 5 defense so far this year. They are really playing well and whether anyone wants to admit it or not Butler has been calling up some great plays. It seems that Minkah was the missing piece and getting Burns off the field was crucial to their latest success. They are creating incredible pressure to opposing defenses and therefore winning the turnover battles.

That being said it won't last long now that Tuitt is on IR. He is a big key to that defensive unit and will be difficult to replace, especially against the run. I'd be surprised if they finish in the top 10.

 

D is good, but also frustratingly inconsistent. The takeaways and pressure on the QB are offset sometimes by big breakdowns in coverage (communication) or running backs breaking free. I'd love to see them close out a game with some stops. I fear a big defensive mistake is going to be costly at the end of a game going down the stretch.

 

I think the Colts could have done anything they wanted
even with a back up QB.

 

For what it’s worth, those are the teams we used to loose to.

 

The difference is now, Tomlin is desperate....

 

This defense is better because we get more "splash" plays than before but the same problems still exist. The communication issues are still present and run defense is still spotty. The thing that bothers me is when we score it is almost a given the opposing teams gets the ball and goes right down field and puts up points and makes it look easy. I also cringe when the team has a lead late in the 4th, this defense can't stop a 2 minute offense to save its life. When they need a splash play like a sack or INT they don't get it, instead we usually watch 3rd and 14 get picked up with a 27 yard uncontested completion.

 

Yeah, and turnovers are notoriously unreliable in terms of past performance predicting future performance. Cam said that himself a couple of weeks ago where he pointed out that they did a good job getting turnovers early last year but not in the second half.

The D is improved but it really does need to get more consistent, particularly in things like red zone defense. The Steelers are 11th in the league there but 29th in the league over the last 3 games. Gotta button that up.

 

You’re not wrong.

24 points to hoyer lol

 

We do better playing up to the competition and when we start 0-3, that is what we did.