Steelers need to go 13-3 I feel...

If they are going to get the 1 seed and get home field over the Patriots. I'm going to figure that's the worst the Patriots record is going to be is 13-3. So that also means you're gonna have to beat them head to head here at Heinz Field late in the season and hope the Patriots lose 2 games somewhere along the way during the season.

The bottom line is the Steelers have to start this season out strong. They have a ton of winnable games the first 7-8 weeks of the season and there is no reason they can't start the year at 6-1 or 7-1. They really can't afford any bad losses in the first half of the season like they usually have under Tomlin. The only games I could maybe see them losing the first 8 games are at Baltimore, at KC, or at Detroit and they should win 2 out of those 3 games.

They really almost have too. Get the one seed and maybe the Patriots play a team like Oakland in the playoffs before you see them and they lose to them or even if they win they still have to come here and win instead of going to Foxboro and having to win. The schedule sets up well for the Steelers this year to win a lot of games with a lot of home games to be played in the last half of the season in November and December.

 

So you want somebody else to do the dirty for us huh? I hope the Steelers don't think this way

 

Well if that what it takes so be it. If we get to the Super Bowl and win it by avoiding the Patriots like we did in 05 and 08 not too many people will be too upset. Last time I checked those Super Bowl championships still count.

 

Funny thing about this. Since '78, the Steelers have gone 13-3 or better exactly twice. In 2001, they were 13-3 and in '04, they were 15-1. The got the AFCCG at home both years, and lost to NE and Brady both times.

So this formula-for-sucess (and it's hard to argue with it) is 0 for 2, so far.

 

Nah everyone will be hurt by game 3 lol

 

Beat the Pats, Rats, and kitty Cats and go 12-4, that will get 1 seed.

 

Some people think the Pats are capable of going undefeated, so going 13-3 isn't going to be good enough for home field advantage IMO.

 

Colts and Packers will be tough too.

 

The only way we get past n.e is if someone else beat them for us. They have us shook and have our number.

 

This obsession with the Patriots... kind of leaves me

The Pats are not the only team standing in our way of a Superbowl. Lots of teams on the rise, lots of ways things could play out.

Taking each game at a time might be a better strategy.

 

We will crush em. they suck

 

Exactly.. Brady could get carried off the field on a stretcher... Not say he will or wont but there is always that unknown

 

Colts are on a downward slide. Packers though are always dangerous and still a quality team.

 

SB won't mean a thing if we don't go 19-0....

 

13-3 and beating the pats, would probably do it.

I think the Dolphins and Bills might give the Pats a little better attempt this year. That division just stinks no one ever makes it even the least bit hard for the Pats.

 

Who cares who we play? I don't think it matters. I'm sure the Steelers realize that we will probably have to go thru NE, but even if a team beats NE... that team is going to be a really good team that is playing good ball. So really there isn't an "easy" road to the super bowl. Hopefully we are in the mindset of worrying about our opponent and not the pats.

Although both our Super Bowl wins went without having to go thru Brady and the Pats, so if that's what it takes to win it all I have no problem as a fan rooting to play someone other than the pats haha

 

I feel like there was a lot of similar dialogue last year about this time. Then we were 4-5. We should all cool out jets a bit, and see if we can make it through training camp fully-dressed. Seemed like the first day in pads was kinda tough on some guys. There is a long way to go before we get to NE. Hopefully Ben is healthy enough this year to play them in the regular season. We are not going to beat them twice. That being said I would rather kick their butts in the AFCCG. That is where you get real revenge. I guess i have always thought if you are going to win a super bowl you should have to beat the best to do it. All I am saying, no matter what the record, no matter what the seed, I hope we meet Tom Brady in the AFCCG and kick his ***. After that I hope we beat that ****head Aaron Rogers in the Super Bowl.

Looking for some sweet revenge this year.

It is Super Bowl Champs or bust this year. #STAIRWAY27

 

I've heard so many people say this, and it's accepted uncritically. Well, 'splain this to me? If the AFCE is sooo much worse than the AFCN, howz come:
1) Besides the div winners, the only other playoff teams from either div was Miami of the AFCE
2) Each AFCE team finished with a better record than their corresponding AFCN team. (I.e. 2nd place Miami has a better record than 2nd place Balt, #3 Buff had a better record than #3 Cincy, #4 NYJ better than#4 Cle)
3) When the AFCN teams got a chance to feast on NE's cupcakes (Mia, Buf, NYJ) they went a whopping 6-6.

Not saying the AFCE is a great div or anything, but if it stinks, last year it had company.

 

Well, they were the only team in the way last year, so, it's relevant.

 

Said this earlier in the year and got emaciated for doing so.


Plently of AFC threats out there. Obvious ones are the Raiders and Texans.


Raiders are a threat due to the fact yhat they are now ready for a playoff push given the injury bug that Denver and San Die- I mean Los Angeles has in addition to Kansas City being just good enough. Oakland has all the pieces to trade blows with us and possibly beat us as well in a playoff setting.



As for Houston? Should DeShaun Watson mature faster than we thought... that will be all Houston needs. Their defense is a top flight one with their own dreams now becoming a reality. Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt terrorizing offenses is one thing but getting the likes of Zach Cunningham (a player who will surprise many I believe given his style fits well in Houston) and Kevin Johnson will provide big dividends for them come November and December. That Christmas game more than likely will have playoff implications. That being said.. expect one heck of a hard fought battle there.



Some surprise teams can be the likes of Tenessee and Jacksonville. For the latter, Blake Bortles is bad... but the gameplan to center around Leonard Fournette will not be when we see them I am sure. Only reason I do not think Jacksonville will not be as much of an issue is the fact that dealing with rushing attacks like Jacksonvilles will likely be more easier for the defense as the unit will have gelled better before that time comes.



As for Tenessee, I believe they will surprise people a lot more than they are getting credit for. Had Marcus not went down, Tennessee may have won the division. No reason to believe they will not try it again. As for the matchup? Coin toss for me.

 

Not this year.


Raiders and Texans are two more.

 

The Raiders and Houston don't have QBs with playoff experience.

 

That may be but both are still worth looking out for. Both still have enough weapons outside of QB to inflict big time damage on Pittsburgh.


Oakland could have won the division had Derek Carr not went down and Houston could have beaten Tom Brady had they had a Quarterback.


This year can be different for the Raiders. Same can be said for Houston. Nothing is guaranteed but one thing is for certain; New England is not just the only team that I would be concerned about.

 

I'm not sure that was the word you were reaching for.

 

INCONCEIVABLE!