After watching the AFC Championship game...

I was thinking about how mortal the Patsies looked and I already know we can beat the Donkeys.

So this year was a missed opportunity to get to the SB, but would we have won it?

After watching the NFC game, I don`t think we would be ready to beat Carolina.

I know you have to be in it to win it, but be honest.

Do you think we would have been SB champs this year? I vote no.

 

I think it was completely up for grabs this year.... I think Carolina is most complete team though. You never know how young teams react in their first SB. Carolina might lay an egg.

 

The bottom line is I would rather the Steelers have the opportunity to play Carolina in the SB and find out than to not be there. The term "any given Sunday" exists for a reason, and once you get to the big game, you never know what could happen.

 

I'm not so sure we would have gotten by the Pats tbh.. Say what you will, but our secondary is still really weak... Gronk might have gone for 200+ at home, against us. The Broncos had a bunch of drops and Manning missed a couple wide open guys on a windy day against us. And, of course, when we needed the big stop, we couldn't get it. The pass rush didn't get to Manning enough either. I think another year of seasoning for Dupree/Shazier/Tuitt, and an addition or two to the secondary, would bring us to the level we need to be. The D definitely improved as the season went on, and showed flashes of dominance. I think they will hit their stride next year and become one of the league's best. As long as we stay healthy, there's no reason why we can't run the AFC next year.

 

I'm genuinely curious why you think the patriots were so beatable this year? The broncos beat them with an unbelievable defensive performance with a pass rush that was literally in bradys face all game. The steelers don't have anything like that right now. The front 7 is really solid, and great against the run. No way we get that pressure on brady that was needed to win that game.

I will say our offence would have put up more points than the broncos did but the pats were a 2pt attempt (and only because of a fluked missed extra point attempt) away from overtime in a game where the broncos D played out of their mind.

I think a solid draft, and better luck with injuries, and we will be right there next year. Hopefully with some home field advantage as well. Really confident about next year.

 

Our D isn't there yet. And the injuries on offense were difficult to overcome.

What you'll notice about all four title game teams is that they were all pretty healthy. Tyrann Mathieu was the only big absence. The Pats missed Mayo and Blount, too. But overall: they were all healthy teams.

 

We need an OLB that can rush the passer and a DT that can pressure up the middle. When we needed a stop from our defense we could not get to the quarterback. Ware/Miller reminded me of what we use to have in Harrison/Woodley, Porter/Gildon/Hagans, Lloyd and Greene.

 

I'm not sure the Cams are beatable either

 

While the Patriots did look mortal a large part of that was because of the Broncos defense. While our pass defense played better towards the end of the year they're still nowhere near as good as the Broncos. So I could easily see us struggling in a big way against the Patriots. I hate to admit it, but the Panthers are playing very good football. They're a complete team and while anything can happen it wouldn't surprise me if they made us look like the Steelers West in the SB.

 

I have mixed emotions about us up against the Patriots. Had we had DeAngelo Williams and Antonio Brown along with our "A" game I, think we could have beat the Patriots. I actually believed we were going to the Super Bowl at one point of the season. That loss against the Broncos planted the seed of doubt in me if we could have now beaten the Patriots. Tough place to play in Cheaterville..

 

Absolutely right. And even then the Pats still came back at the end and would have tied it more then likely if the kicker hadn't missed the XP earlier.

 

I thought the Steelers could have out gunned them this time around had we Williams and Antonio. But I am sitting on the fence with this notion.

 

I see the Patriots fired their o-line coach. For sure Bellichet and Brady wouldn't take blame for the loss.

 

i more amazed that carolina could add defensive backs late in the season and have them play so well. why can't we? coaching?

 

Didn't the Steelers bring in the Panthers CB Robert McClain for a workout?

 

and yet he's playing in the SB for carolina. we have blake and cortez.

 

That's a good question Mac. As a Steeler great, I respect what Carnell Lake brought to the field. I understand he has had scraps to work with but what I don't understand is how bad the secondary at times looked, both confused and out of place. And why did it take so long to get Boykin on the field? All the while Blake(who I can't believe any fan would want this POS back) was getting torched repeatedly? Tomlin said his staff will be intact going into the 2016 season. I don't know if Lake is the answer. Hopefully he has some fresh blood to coach. The secondary needs a major makeover.

I would be surprised if Cortez Allen or Toast Blake are back.

 

The Pats have SB trophy because of an undrafted CB brought in late in the season.

Yes, it is coaching and preparation.

The Patriots get more out of cast-off personnel than any team I have ever seen, except for maybe the 49ers of the 80s. Don't forget, in mid-season, Belichick put a WR (Troy brown) in at DB and he ended up with three interceptions. How the hell does THAT happen?

 

I remember when the Pats had a wide receiver playing corner and winning playoffs and Super Bowl. You would think with Tomlin & Lebeau being corners themselves, our secondary would be our strong suit. I still can't believe they didn't have enough sense to keep and I can't remember his name, (corner I believe now in Atlanta or New Orleans ) as our corner but gave Cortez Allen a big contract and he can't beat out the likes of Blake. I put that directly on Lebeau and Tomlin.

 

The Pats looked ordinary due to that vicious pass rush by the Broncos. We don't have that kind of ability. We just can't seem to get to the QB. If we couldn't get to Brady, he may have torched us all game long. I do think we had a very realistic chance of beating the Pats if we could have just got past the Broncos, but right now, the Panthers look unstoppable. Their entire defence is incredible and that offence is lights out as well. They are the real deal this year.

 

If only the Steelers could evaluate the CB position like they do the WR position, this team would be a dynasty.

 

One would think but that doesn't seem to be a valid point on these forums. Also, Keenan Lewis wanted to play for the hometown team or so he says. I've heard him and Tomlin didn't get along.

 

Mike Tomlin was a wide receiver.