This season has been a coin toss

I just reviewed the scores for the games this season. Out of 15 games so far, 11 had final scores within one score (7 points or less margin of victory or defeat). Two of the more lopsided contests were losses (Patriots and Browns) and two were wins (Bengals and Dolphins). The close matches were 5 losses and 6 wins. Pretty much a coin flip for those 11 games, and low scoring affairs. A couple of plays go our way and we are maybe 10-5 and clearly in the playoffs. A couple plays go the other way and we are 5-10 and not a sniff of the playoffs. I think that is why this season has been such a roller coaster. With the injuries and weird coaching, we probably should be more like 5-11, but somehow we kept teams close and pulled out a few (mainly due to the defense).

If we make it to the playoffs, maybe the coin will land in our favor. With this defense, anything is possible.

 

This has been a season that is a two sided coin that reads "Good Defense", "No Offense."

No NFL team goes far with an offense or defense that is totally garbage.

 

Good teams don't write that story.

In my years of football, playing and coaching, one mantra has always been the benchmark of good teams...you win the games you are supposed to win and split the rest. It holds true for most sports, actually.

When teams, or fans actually, look at a season and say it could have gone either way, then they weren't doing enough things right to secure victories. Nothing is more emblematic of this year's team. They could not secure victories.

Many fans subscribe to the philosophy of it not mattering how you win. That's short sighted and a likely recipe for failure over the course of a season. How you win or lose is extremely important if you wish to grow as a team and be playing your best ball at the end of the season. And this team definitely wasn't playing better at the end of the season.

 

I see what you’re saying, and I agree that you need to look at the details of a game rather than box score alone.

I also think, though, that the question of whether we’re a “good team” goes out the window this season. Losing a starting QB, WR, RB, FB, TE and C for considerable parts of the season means this isn’t representative of what the team can do.

 

It doesn't take a game by game analysis. Just a glance at the point differential. Steelers are +4. That's rightfully a .500 ball club.

In terms of how they got there, the stretch of winning 7 of 8 was really fueled by turnovers and 3 non-offensive TDs. You knew that that well was going to dry up eventually and it has the last two weeks.

 

Those guys get paid to pay as well. The head coach isn't only responsible for finding starters. He's responsible for finding good replacements. Every team suffers injuries. We got hit hard, but it makes no difference. This team isn't good because it lacks depth AS WELL AS it's vets are underperforming. There are no excuses. Tomlin had a poor contingency plan for dealing with key injuries.

Actually, he was asked that question in a presser and he responded by saying he didn't believe in contingency plans. Our head coach doesn't believe in being prepared for an injury to key personnel. And this year is proof positive that when a coach isn't prepared, you get our offense. Thanks Tomlin.

So I'll expand my previous statement and say that this team isn't good because it lacks depth, it's vets are underperforming, and it's head coach doesn't think stars get hurt.

 

They flipped the script with all the 1st round picks to mask the bumbling Butler

 

I rarely pay attention to what Tomlin says - what he says to the press and what he believes and does I think are two different things. Every team has a contingency plan - backup QB, several RB, multiple players at every position. But to get hit with all the losses to injury this season, and still be within one score one way or the other in 11 games is pretty remarkable. I figured with all the injuries, and the young and inexperienced talent elsewhere, we’d be getting blown out most of the season

 

More like Two-Faces coin for the offense. You got Duck on one side and MR on the other. Both end badly for you.

 

The vets on offense underperformed. Happens with key injuries, 1st year QBs & practice squad players not ready for varsity. The vets on defense had a good year, better than the last few we have witnessed. Steelers have their draft picks mostly filling out the roster & go get what they think is lacking. They haven't perfected who will have a good year but no other team has either. fa depth signings look great when they work, not so much when they don't. It's rolling the dice.
Being prepared was lacking. It has been since the last labor agreement for all the teams in the NFL. Tomlin isn't that good at it too begin with. I can't fault the young guys because they need to experience failure before they think of doing it a better way. Other than the oline, we are young & inexperienced on offense. It shows in what the coaches want to run & the execution of what they are running.

Happy New year Glory Days, better seasons ahead...with & without our gut feeling coach. It is not far away imo.