What are Reasonable Expectations for Mike McCarthy in year one with the Steelers?

Some pretty good players on those Giants teams. Joe Judge was awful at the top. But there was some young talent on the roster.

 

Roman Wilson says hi breakout season upcoming

 

I’d buy that before I’d bet on a rookie WR impacting.

 

We already know who they’re playing at home and away how much does the day they play factor into your prediction

 

I think people forget that in His last two years in Green Bay, people were even questioning if Roger was done, that's how bad it got, but they fired McCarthy, and Rodgers won another MVP with the new HC.

 

It factors due to how the order of opponents we play are scheduled and not so much the opponents themselves. You are correct in the opponents known. For those not in the know, they are as follows;

• Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts.
  
  
  
• Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans.
  
  

Now, no NFL Schedule is easy; no matter what the analysts state. That said, there is some validity to some of their concerns. For example, facing off against Denver and Houston early in the season is world's different than later in the season. Same goes for a team like New England, Philadelphia (Pittsburgh doesn't have much success there away but still) or even Tampa Bay. Playing playoff contending teams early is more difficult for every team starts off virtually fresh and well rested in terms of their starters. By Week 4, every NFL Player is banged up due to the visceral of the sport.


Long story short?! The order in which the Steelers play their opponents matters to me as getting stronger opponents early on poses more risk in terms of playoff seeding. Again, teams like New England, Denver, Houston and Jacksonville will all be Playoff Contenders in 2026. In addition, the NFL usually has a rotation of 6 to 7 different teams in the playoffs since 2020. Only way Pittsburgh gets there again without question is to win the division. If the Steelers don't, that makes it much harder for them to get in for the reasons mentioned before.

 

If everyone could do this why are so many HCs fired every year for not being able to do just that??

 

And the new HC did something MM was never either able or willing to do - get Rodgers to change how he played.

That was a big part of why AR won another MVP but also a huge part of why he left. He wanted to go back to his version of the offense.

Got that with the NYJ.

 

8-9. He has to fix the mess Tomlin created.

 

MM won't have to worry about Hard Knocks. It's the Seahawks then Patriots next.

 

And I get that. It's human nature to stick with what you know, especially when things are not going well.

 

We must ask ourselves if you believe the Steelers have improved their roster thru FA?
I think we have, now if we can have a good draft this should help even more right? so 9-8
10-7 would be a reasonable attainable goal right?

 

There is also this, which really sucks:

NFL eyes change to let teams play more than two 'short-week' games

For years, BAL has benefitted from extra rest before Steelers games. I am betting there is some scheduling bargaining behind the scenes.

 

McCarthy is taking over a division winning team

 

McCarthy is taking over a division winning team

 

One of the worst divisions in the NFL in 2025. Hell... the NFC South was better.

 

The winner of the NFC South last season had a losing record .

 

The Steelers just played away at New England last year and at the Eagles two years ago, make it make sense.

 

.... not a high bar to clear:

 

well yeah, they're more interesting and besides the team was on it just a couple of seasons back

 

Ouch. This chart kills Steelersrule6's theory.

 

something is not right here
the numbers don't add up

 

Well we know who were are playing.

None of our home games vs. warm weathered teams in December.

Maybe you waiting to see who we selected in the 2026 draft/

My official prediction will be a week before the pre-season ends. As of right now I see 10 wins.


https://fbschedules.com/2026-pittsburgh-steelers-schedule/