Don't look now but your Pittsburgh Steelers are in first place

At this point, Ravens have a better outlook than KC
Even if KC beats them, Which I highly doubt, Ravens will still finish ahead of the KC Swifties

 

Agreed.


Patrick over Lamar for me but that is when Patrick is well equipped with good skill players. He isn't for 2025 thus far; Travis Kelce seeing to that albeit by accident by knocking out Xaiver Worthy. Even if he does return, Baltimore's secondary is still not to be trifled with; doubly so with the rise of Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey. Kyle Hamilton is every bit the ass kicker I'd knew he be coming out of Notre Dame and it is only a matter of time before the game slows down for Malakai Starks. Once that happens and Baltimore's pass rush gets up to speed?!


Man... good flipping luck to pass happy Offenses. It hasn't happened yet but I suspect people will be thinking differently of Baltimore's Defense by Seasons End. I expect Pittsburgh to be much of the same though at what capacity remains to be seen. Changes need to be made and, to Mike Tomlin's credit, some of those changes are taking effect. Daniel Ekuale is taking more and more of Keeanu Benton's snaps while I don't suspect Payton Wilson will be on the field for much longer if he continues to have gaffe after gaffe in coverage. Cole Holcomb is also eating away at his snaps a bit.

 

It seems like teams will just try to run on the Ravens. They are somehow worse at it than us so far (though, I think having to face Cook, Monty/Gibbs,Judkins is tougher than Hall, Walker/Charbonnet, Stevenson). The Ravens won't be true contenders (even with a great offense) until they clean that up.

As for us, we have to be better nearly everywhere. The OL sucking has completely stifled our offense, while defensively we've been a massive disappointment. We aren't good in coverage or against the run.... I'm hoping we can put a good game together on Sunday and then use the bye week to get healthy and improve. I know it won't be a "flip a switch" type thing, but we have to progressively get better.

 

Only thing I will note is the Ravens had some early bad losses last year and then went on a tear. I expect a similar result this year.

btw, I am quite enjoying the meltdown on the Ravens message board that I lurk in. The "Fire Harbaugh Now" chorus is deafening.

 

There is some progress against the run at least on the right side of the defense.

Opponent rushing yards by offensive location;

 

But their best DT is injured Madubuike and they have no pass rush.

 

They also cut back on the snaps of Thornhill and played Peppers.

 

What a joke. Ravens have an easy schedule after the brutal month of September. Steelers have their games against "real" QBs in November and December. Steelers couldn't stop Drake Maye and Sam Darnold. Wait until Goff, Jackson, Allen, Love and Herbert get a hold of this D.

That's 6 games in the "L" column.

 

Good thing the Steelers have had some easier games to get the kinks worked out!

 

The Steelers defense could get better as the season goes on, they just need the players to stay healthy.

 

I tend to agree but one never knows. Pretty sure most thought Jordon Love would destroy the lowly Browns.

 

Weird.


However, if that is what is considered necessary, so be it.

 

You never know the Steelers could sneak out a win or two in those six games but they will be big underdogs in all 6.

 

We've seen this movie before. Unless Yayha Black and Derrick Harmon become the second coming of Reggie White and John Randle.... Steelers ILBs will continue to get torched, no matter who we plug and play. Look no further than Spillane... dude finally has a good DL to work with and is playing well for Patriots.

 

Thornhill has been awful.

 

So we talk up players in a losing effort, but talk down players in a winning effort.

 

Patriots should have won that game by 2 scores. Steelers lucked up again... just like they did 2 years ago with wins that defied all logic and reason, getting blown out statiscally... but somehow managing to win. This is not a formula to win playoff games.

 

9-8 and out of the playoffs or losing in the wild card round by a blowout again

 

BUT BUT...if the Steelers lost in that fashion it would have been that the coaching didn't have them focused on ball security and they'll never win again with Tomlin.

I do agree with the last sentence.

 

The AFC North is trending to be a terrible division in football this year. What is jarring is that the 3/4 division are poor on defense, especially against the run.

I bet only the division winner will make the playoffs and make a quick exit.

 

And 3 of the 4 teams have a awful offense too!

 

* Bengals without Burrow... I agree. But with him, their offense is better than Ravens.

 

Yeah,I was talking about the bengals without Burrow since he is out for 3 months....I am not sure the bengals with Burrow have a better offense that Baltimore.The bengals o-line is terrible and the ravens have a much better running game.More balanced offense

 

Browning will play better as the season goes on. Bengals games will not be sure wins by any stretch. Again backup QBs look "All Pro" vs the Steelers even back in the Lebeau days.

Bruce Gradkowski in 2009 comes to mind.

 

At least Lebeau had a amazing record against rookie QB!