Steelers Strength of Schedule #1 for 2015

[Wingman]

Yes, and the Clowns have NEVER even been in a SB and haven't been to the playoffs in years. The bungles haven't won a playoff game in 20+ years. Only the rats have any viability in the division. So basically the issue is ONE team and the Jets 4 year slide. Also the Steelers benefited for years from a weak division. Hell almost every time the NFL expands the Steelers get the weak team in the division. I really thought they'd put Carolina in the division as well. Yes the AFC East sucks but the Steelers division has been hammered by NE almost every year. So again I'm not sure who people think are going to beat them? They beat every division leader almost every year.

And I still think it is because they cheat every ******* year. What do you call the IRS and New England at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean?

 

[Wingman]

And I still think it is because they cheat every ******* year. What do you call the IRS and New England at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean?

A good start

 

[Troglodyte]

If thats what you think, then ok, sure

How am I wrong, exactly?

 

[STEELERS R GR8]

Winning the division was costly. We lost Bell and ended with a tough schedule. One thing is for sure, we'll see what this team is made off.

Winning the division only affects 2 games, if we didn't win the division then I do believe we would of ended up 3rd. With that said we would have had Maimi and the Jagoffs instead of the Cheats and the Colts. Two very much weaker games but place of finish only affect 2 games, losing Bell was the thing that really hurt for sure and your right we are about to see what this team is made of.

 

[Troglodyte]

Huh??? SOS is based on the "success of a team in the PREVIOUS season"...

And it's stupid as that changes after the games have been played. The Steelers were better in 2014 than they were in 2013. All other things being equal, the Steelers opponents actual 2014 SOS was stronger than originally thought.

 

[STEELERS R GR8]

And it's stupid as that changes after the games have been played. The Steelers were better in 2014 than they were in 2013. All other things being equal, the Steelers opponents actual 2014 SOS was stronger than originally thought.

If you read the article or go back a few posts I copied it there it shows that this past year after the games have been played it didn't change. The Raiders had the toughest schedule before and after. Again:

After all was said and done, Dallas, Detroit, Houston and Pittsburgh played the four weakest schedules in 2014. Three of those teams made the playoffs and the one that didn't -- Houston -- finished with a winning record.

 

[Steelers1356]

As long as they are in that division their schedule is going to suck *** because all 3 teams with them suck ***. Meanwhile, our division is pretty much friggin loaded.

True, but the league could balance that out by making the rest of NE's schedule tougher, there doesn't seem to be much interest in doing that of course. #22 on the strength of schedule list after this past season is a joke.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Who the league determines you play, it is what it is. Within divisions, the Browns always suck although we often find a way to split with them most years, the Bungles are usually pretty good until playoff time, and the Rats are always good. In the AFC East the Bills, Jets, and Miami pretty much always suck. It would be like us playing the Browns six times and cheating while we do.

 

[Troglodyte]

True, but the league could balance that out by making the rest of NE's schedule tougher, there doesn't seem to be much interest in doing that of course. #22 on the strength of schedule list after this past season is a joke.

It's pre-determined based on where a team finishes and what division they are in, there's no subjective decision making involved.

 

[deljzc]

I picked 9-7 for the 2015 season back in August and I see nothing to tell me otherwise (and am not going to get "sold" that free agency and draft picks are going to effect much).

After free agency/draft I will predict 2016 as a two-year look ahead for this team, just like I try to do every year.

I just think we're a slightly above average team in this league, in the same mix with about 10-12 other teams, that is not a consistent winner at this point.

 

[Vader]

And I still think it is because they cheat every ******* year. What do you call the IRS and New England at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean?

Absolutely they are cheating. I'm just saying as long as they are cheating it doesn't matter what division they play in.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

It's pre-determined based on where a team finishes and what division they are in, there's no subjective decision making involved.

So then the Cheats should have the toughest schedule this year when it comes to the extra games, Seattle the second-toughest, etc. IIRC, you play your division opponents twice each, your division plays another division, and the remaining 6 games are based on strength of schedule. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[SteelerFan448]

So then the Cheats should have the toughest schedule this year when it comes to the extra games, Seattle the second-toughest, etc. IIRC, you play your division opponents twice each, your division plays another division, and the remaining 6 games are based on strength of schedule. Correct me if I'm wrong.

You play six games against divisional opponents per year, eight games against predetermined divisional opponents (one AFC, one NFC) and your final two games come against the other two AFC divisions based on division standings, which is why the Steelers play the Patriots and Colts this year.

 

[Troglodyte]

So then the Cheats should have the toughest schedule this year when it comes to the extra games, Seattle the second-toughest, etc. IIRC, you play your division opponents twice each, your division plays another division, and the remaining 6 games are based on strength of schedule. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The Patriots and Seahawks will play a 1st place schedule just like the Steelers. Playoff accomplishments don't have anything to do with it. The difference in SOS comes from their division, the intra-conference division and the inter-conference division they'll play.

 

[bermudasteel]

I've got $20 bucks on - "IF you swap the Clowns out of the AFCN and replace them w/ the *'s - I promise you that there'd me more parity...I think that change, if it ever grew wings, would equate the AFCE to the NFCS - neither division, at present, with top to bottom big guns; but, they can, on any given Sunday, give you a run for your money...

If anyone from the NFL reads this post - I suggest you mail my check to www.steelernation.com for the brilliant idea...

 

[Vader]

I've got $20 bucks on - "IF you swap the Clowns out of the AFCN and replace them w/ the *'s - I promise you that there'd me more parity...I think that change, if it ever grew wings, would equate the AFCE to the NFCS - neither division, at present, with top to bottom big guns; but, they can, on any given Sunday, give you a run for your money...

If anyone from the NFL reads this post - I suggest you mail my check to www.steelernation.com for the brilliant idea...

You are aware that the pats** have dominated the AFCN over the years? How does moving them to the AFCN change anything? They've killed the Steelers for a decade. They destroyed the bungles the same way. Only the rats have come close to staying within earshot of them. The Steelers wouldn't win another division title with the pats** in the division. They dominate it the same way they do their division now.

 

[STEELERS R GR8]

So then the Cheats should have the toughest schedule this year when it comes to the extra games, Seattle the second-toughest, etc. IIRC, you play your division opponents twice each, your division plays another division, and the remaining 6 games are based on strength of schedule. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Strength of Schedule only affects 2 games and yeah the Cheats & Colt are harder games then the Dolphins and Jags but we are only talking about 2 games. Here is a link with who we play the next few years:

http://www.pslsource.com/pittsburgh_steelers_future_schedule_of_opponents/

 

[Steel G]

Yes, and the Clowns have NEVER even been in a SB and haven't been to the playoffs in years. The bungles haven't won a playoff game in 20+ years. Only the rats have any viability in the division. So basically the issue is ONE team and the Jets 4 year slide. Also the Steelers benefited for years from a weak division. Hell almost every time the NFL expands the Steelers get the weak team in the division. I really thought they'd put Carolina in the division as well. Yes the AFC East sucks but the Steelers division has been hammered by NE almost every year. So again I'm not sure who people think are going to beat them? They beat every division leader almost every year.

I just think people tend to give the AFC North/Old Central short shrift. In the time frame that the Bills have been awful, the Browns have at least had 1 playoff season and a 10 win season. The Bills haven't had a double digit win season in 16 years. Of course the Browns have never been to a super bowl but the Jets last SB appearance was 46 years ago. For that matter, the Dolphins haven't been to one in 31 years. Even the Bungles have been there more recently than that. In the time since the Bills lost their 4th and final SB, the Steelers have been to 4 and won 2. The Rats have been to and won 2. The Bungles may have not won a playoff game in 20+ years, but they have made the playoffs 6 out of the last 10 seasons. That's something nobody in the East (other than the Cheats of course) has come close to doing. Jets have been the closest with just 3 of the last 10 seasons.

As for realignment, prior to that happening in '02, the Steelers played in the old Central with the addition of the Jags, who had 4 playoff appearances in their first 7 seasons under Coughlin including a trip to the AFC title game. Also there were the Titans who had back to back 13-3 seasons and a trip to the SB that they fell a yard short of taking to OT. And, of course, there were the Rats who won their first SB while in that same division. The final 5 seasons of the old Central were strong.

 

[Vader]

I just think people tend to give the AFC North/Old Central short shrift. In the time frame that the Bills have been awful, the Browns have at least had 1 playoff season and a 10 win season. The Bills haven't had a double digit win season in 16 years. Of course the Browns have never been to a super bowl but the Jets last SB appearance was 46 years ago. For that matter, the Dolphins haven't been to one in 31 years. Even the Bungles have been there more recently than that. In the time since the Bills lost their 4th and final SB, the Steelers have been to 4 and won 2. The Rats have been to and won 2. The Bungles may have not won a playoff game in 20+ years, but they have made the playoffs 6 out of the last 10 seasons. That's something nobody in the East (other than the Cheats of course) has come close to doing. Jets have been the closest with just 3 of the last 10 seasons.

As for realignment, prior to that happening in '02, the Steelers played in the old Central with the addition of the Jags, who had 4 playoff appearances in their first 7 seasons under Coughlin including a trip to the AFC title game. Also there were the Titans who had back to back 13-3 seasons and a trip to the SB that they fell a yard short of taking to OT. And, of course, there were the Rats who won their first SB while in that same division. The final 5 seasons of the old Central were strong.

It just seems you are going back and forth on your criteria. Yes, the clowns have had one 10 win season since they came back into the league 16 seasons ago. But it's about relevancy not the once in a lifetime winning season which didn't even get them to the playoffs. Hell the Bills made 4 SB and made it to 8 playoffs during the same span that it took the clowns to make it to two playoff appearances. The Jets have won as many playoff games in the past 10 years than the bungles have in their ENTIRE HISTORY. Does it really matter that the bungles make the playoffs a lot when they can't even win a game? I'd rather be the Jets and at least making the conference finals from time to time. The Jets were a better team than the bungles. Also Miami made the playoffs 21 times from 1970 to 2001. They won 20 playoff games and 2 SBs. And yes the old central was tough but only one SB ever came from it. Most of the time the central would lose to the Jets like Jax did in 98. They played another central team that year... Ten who got throttled 24-3 at home by the Jets.

And my question still remains: who exactly in the AFC has the pats** number? What alignment would you do that makes them not the best in the division? Every time they play a top team including the Steelers they destroy them. They destroy the AFC north now. They beat the **** out of the bungles this year. They beat the rats in the playoffs. They manhandled the Steelers last year and almost every year they play them. What magic realignment is going to change that?

 

[Coach]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25066031

We lost to some of the worst teams in the league this past season and beat some of the better ones so maybe this is a good thing?

This is brutal. The road games are brutal. And we have to travel west. Tomlin's record on the west coast is below Cowher's and Noll's.

Its too early to make official predictions as the draft and free agency need to play out, but I'll say this. The Steelers will need to be no worse than 6-2 at home if they are going to make the playoffs.

 

[Vader]

The Steelers didn't even play the top teams in the league this past year. The didn't play Seattle, NE, Den, AZ, Cowboys, Lions, or Packers. They beat the Colts and the bungles (both were destroyed in the playoffs)... They were 1-2 against the rats getting hammered in both those loses (one of which was at home). The Steelers had everything lined up this year. No west coast trips. Hell they never crossed the MS river. They never really left the east coast. Even the "tough" teams were at home (KC, Indy and NO).

This coming year they'll play some really good teams on the road and out west.

 

[Steel G]

And my question still remains: who exactly in the AFC has the pats** number? What alignment would you do that makes them not the best in the division? Every time they play a top team including the Steelers they destroy them. They destroy the AFC north now. They beat the **** out of the bungles this year. They beat the rats in the playoffs. They manhandled the Steelers last year and almost every year they play them. What magic realignment is going to change that?

I don't have the perfect answer for that. One thing that would have helped was to have the Manning led Colts stay in the East instead of moving off to another cream puff division, the South. Manning with a record of 7-12 probably has the most wins and experience as a starting QB against Belicheat. Well, there's his brother Eli who I believe is 3-2 against him and the only QB with a winning record. There you go, maybe stick him in a division against the Manning brothers. The only other team I could think would be the Rats because they play a bruising style and do have two postseason wins in Foxboro and were so close to a third this past season.

 

[Vader]

I don't have the perfect answer for that. One thing that would have helped was to have the Manning led Colts stay in the East instead of moving off to another cream puff division, the South. Manning with a record of 7-12 probably has the most wins and experience as a starting QB against Belicheat. Well, there's his brother Eli who I believe is 3-2 against him and the only QB with a winning record. There you go, maybe stick him in a division against the Manning brothers. The only other team I could think would be the Rats because they play a bruising style and do have two postseason wins in Foxboro and were so close to a third this past season.

So you're going to move around not only divisions but conferences just to put NE in a more competitive division? They cheat everywhere they go. You could put them in with Seattle, Denver, and the rats and they will dominate the division by cheating. The fact is that they dominant whoever they play. No division is going to be good enough until they stop them cheating.