Is the final preseason game a MUST win?

I realize it's "only the preseason", but since 1944 there have been 109 times a team has gone winless in the preseason. Only 14 of those teams went on to make the playoffs (13%) meaning that there is an 87% chance you won't make the playoffs if you have a winless preseason. This seems to indicate that the preseason does count for something and is an indication of where your team is going into the season. Given this, is the Steelers fourth and final preseason game more meaningful than most? Do we really want to go into the season with history against us?

By the way, the last time the Steelers were winless in the preseason was 2006, Bill Cowher's last season. Our regular season record that year? 8-8.

http://www.footballgeography.com/winless-in-the-nfl-preseason/

 

It might be for Danny Smith.

 

no

 

Preseason wins don't mean anything so if they win the last game does that mean they are going to the playoffs no. Who cares if they win need to worry about guys not getting injured.

 

No.

 

I think the $10k question is how long (if at all) would you play the 1st team "offensive" line?

 

no, it's not a must-win game. but, i'd like to see a little more from the team than i have the rest of the pre-season. the starters played pretty well last night though.

 

the must win was yesterday. This will be strictly backups playing and saving the starters for the opener.

 

The only must win games are during the regular season!

 

OK that's the plan. 20-0.

 

Time for the backups to show they deserve to be the backups... Nothing more.
I was encourged by what I saw against the Chiefs....
Still got a ways to go, "Special" teams, especially,,,
But at least 2 of the penalties I saw, were unwarranted... other than that...
Got some cleanin up to do...
2 practices before Da Bears, and I`m not sure how many after, to get our crap together...
In general, it looked like they FINALLY took a step forward last night...
GO STEELERS!!!!
I could care less what we do against Chicago, but I`m ready to see us play like pro`s, against Tenn, and kik their A......!!

 

the bears????????

Carolina


butt I like saying


da bears
da bears

 

CRAP... Sumhow, I thought we were playin the Bears, on thurs nite, before we opend the season against Tennessee...
Musta misread sumthin sumwhere...
Wouldn`t be the first time I was confused... LOL...

 

the last preseason game is meaningless. we can go 7-9 or 6 and 10 with a win or loss

HINES

 

I understand what you're saying, BF, but there is a reason statisticians keep records and that it's possible to reasonably predict future performance based on past results. I realize there are no guarantees and we may break the mold, but records kept since 1944 would indicate the Steelers have slightly better than a 1 in 10 chance of advancing to the post season if they go winless in the preseason. Reason for concern?

 

Man I wish was more like you and just didn't sweat anything. If I were I might be able to get rid of these blood pressure pills.

 

OK, I see it now, but on the same page as the stats:

Does winless preseason lead to a losing record in the regular season? Probably not.In the last ten seasons only 50% of the teams that finished the preseason winless, went on to have losing records in the regular season.


Also the Indianapolis Colts went 0-5 and ended up at 14-2 in 2005 and the next year were 1-3 and won the SB.

 

Only upside to a win would be for pride/self-confidents or maybe your job as a rook if he shines!
Come on Jack... you knew the answer and its not rocket science

 

Nope, not rocket science, statistics. And 70 years of history shows that if we go winless in the preseason there is about a 1 in 10 chance we make the playoffs. Maybe there is a reason sports analysts and bookies pay such close attention to statistics. I agree with the first part of your statement though. It would be nice to get a win for self confidence's sake.

 

Not a must win....... more like a must stay healthy