How many wins before you feel we are a Super Bowl contender this year?

We thought the Steelers were a contender last year, but they weren't. It is all about how a team is playing entering the playoffs. - 2005 is a great example.

 

For context, think about if Tampa Bay looked like a contender halfway through last year.
Despite Brady and a vastly improved defense (bottom-10 -> top-10), they entered their bye week only 7-5.
They were swept by the Saints, including a 38-3 home loss.

If they lost later to Atlanta (who had a lead going into the 4th quarter), they wind up the first playoff week playing the 12-4 Seahawks, instead of the 7-9 WTF. A few bad breaks, and we'd be talking about a disappointing Brady-led team instead of the SB champs.

 

Steelers will go 17-0, bye week and lose to the Chargers at home in the divisional round.

 

Progress.

 

Not disagreeing one bit, you know I am not a fan of Coach T
but you have to wonder about all these high paid players, Steelers have/had
and they don't come up big in clutch? Heyward, Tuite, Hayden, Roethlisberger, Watt ????

 

I feel like these topics are just made to rile up Glemm.

 

You make it sound like Haden was available for the last playoff game, instead of being out with illness.
(Having the #1 CB around to shore up the pass defense might have been enough against Cleveland.)

 

No way were the bears from last year a contender.

 

Provided there aren't any Bad Sneakers along the way.

 

I do believe we were the first 6 seed to ever win it all.

 

The Washington team sure the hell were not. If the Eagles would have won their last game the Giants win that division with a 6-10 record. Brady had an easy ride.

 

Should this occur exactly as you have described - expect a visit from Jules and Vincent, courtesy of Santee. Not even the fixer, Winston "The Wolf" Wolfe, will save you.

 

Sometimes I hate myself for digging evil but how cool was "The Wolf"???!!! My second favorite scene in that movie.

 

Makes you wonder if they could even make that movie today. So irreverent from beginning to end and I loved it.

 

It doesn't matter how many regular season wins we have, we could go undefeated and I would still not feel confident that we are a Superbowl contender based purely on the track record of 3 playoff wins going back to 2011. Not to beat a dead horse as we have so many times on here on this matter, but, I'm tired of basing our regular season wins as a measure of success and settling for mediocrity. That may be the standard for other franchises but it shouldn't be here.

Now we sure are spoiled as Steelers fans having 6 Lombardi's. But, until a Tomlin coached team wins some games and advances in the playoffs other than 2008, 2010, 2016, I'm not getting excited. We've been let down too many times over the past 11 years. And I'm tired of hearing the standard is the standard. What is our standard here, regular season wins or Superbowl's? So for now, I will just enjoy one game at a time and not even think of playoffs or Superbowls.

 

So we get the bye?

 

11….. ‍♂️

 

After the 1st game?

Dr. Click Bait

 

The Pirates will win a playoff game before Steelers do mark it down ! Farm system is loaded

 

Steelers ain't gonna do squat for a while. Need a new HC and QB.

 

Me too. I don't know why they are so maligned, but they're awesome. Great chilling out and drinking a beer music. Great road trip music. Just great music.

 

After today's game??? What will it take for me to believe they are a contender? They would have to win out for me to feel they are a contender.

 

I'm with you, I was pounced upon about six games in when I said we are winning by the seat of our pants. The Defense was spot on and the only reason we were winning. The Offense with Ben behind center I felt was our Achilles Heel. He had too many 3-and-outs and could not hit the long ball with any amount of confidence.

 

I didn't know they were considered maligned.
I do know I have tried getting some friends into them , and they are like....No. LoL. Losers. LoL