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What are the Steelers chances to make the playoffs?

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What are the Steelers chances to make the playoffs? We are 2-2 now, losing both games to AFC teams which can hurt in tie breakers.. The Bengals are 4-0. If Cincy splits their next 12, they are 10-6. I think we need to sweep the Bengals to win the AFC North.

If we do not win the AFC North, you’d have to think we can not be anything less than 9-7.

The Steelers schedule gets tougher. We have two west coast games, and the only games that appears to be easy are the Browns games.



• 5*OCT 12*8:30PMEDT*+*AT**CHARGERSGAME DAY

• 6*OCT 18*1:00PMEDT*)**CARDINALSGAME DAY

• 7*OCT 25*1:00PMEDT***AT**CHIEFSGAME DAY

• 8*NOV 1*1:00PMEST****BENGALSGAME DAY

• 9*NOV 8*1:00PMEST****RAIDERSGAME DAY

• 10*NOV 15*1:00PMEST****BROWNSGAME DAY

• 11*BYE

• 12*NOV 29*4:25PMEST***AT**SEAHAWKSGAME DAY

• 13*DEC 6*8:30PMEST*'**COLTSGAME DAY

• 14*DEC 13*1:00PMEST***AT**BENGALSGAME DAY


• 15*DEC 20*4:25PMEST****BRONCOSGAME DAY

• 16*DEC 27*8:30PMEST*'*AT**RAVENSGAME DAY

• 17*JAN 3*1:00PMEST***AT**BROWNSGAME DAY
 
Coach said:
What are the Steelers chances to make the playoffs? We are 2-2 now, losing both games to AFC teams which can hurt in tie breakers.. The Bengals are 4-0. If Cincy splits their next 12, they are 10-6. I think we need to sweep the Bengals to win the AFC North.

If we do not win the AFC North, you’d have to think we can not be anything less than 9-7.

The Steelers schedule gets tougher. We have two west coast games, and the only games that appears to be easy are the Browns games.



• 5*OCT 12*8:30PMEDT*+*AT**CHARGERSGAME DAY

• 6*OCT 18*1:00PMEDT*)**CARDINALSGAME DAY

• 7*OCT 25*1:00PMEDT***AT**CHIEFSGAME DAY

• 8*NOV 1*1:00PMEST****BENGALSGAME DAY

• 9*NOV 8*1:00PMEST****RAIDERSGAME DAY

• 10*NOV 15*1:00PMEST****BROWNSGAME DAY

• 11*BYE

• 12*NOV 29*4:25PMEST***AT**SEAHAWKSGAME DAY

• 13*DEC 6*8:30PMEST*'**COLTSGAME DAY

• 14*DEC 13*1:00PMEST***AT**BENGALSGAME DAY


• 15*DEC 20*4:25PMEST****BRONCOSGAME DAY

• 16*DEC 27*8:30PMEST*'*AT**RAVENSGAME DAY

• 17*JAN 3*1:00PMEST***AT**BROWNSGAME DAY
Click to expand...


Here's my take based on what I've seen in the first quarter of the season.

Chargers, Cardinals, Chiefs and Raiders are certainly winnable. I'm not sold on Carson Palmer and the Cards, their defense is good, but the offense is so-so.
The Colts don't appear to be who everyone thought they were with Luck and even less without Luck.
The Broncos are in the same boat as the Colts except with what appears to be potentially the best defense in the AFC, so the Steelers need Ben in that one.
The Ravens just aren't good right now and unless things change, Ben should be back and that is certainly a winnable game
The Browns are the Browns, but they won't be pushovers, should be able to split with them at worst
The Seahawks and Bengals are the three games that will test the Steelers. If the defense continues to grow they should be able to harass Wilson into mistakes like the Lions did last night. The Bengals are very good team right now and wouldn't be surprised if they swept the Steelers, but they will be dog fights (no pun intended).

So, 12 games and I see 9 winnable games and 3 very tough games. Of the 9 winnable games they need at least 7 of them and probably one of the very tough games, that gives them 10 wins and 6 losses. That may or may not be good enough to make the playoffs, winning 8 of the winnable games and 1 of the tough games puts them at 11-5 and see what that brings. They need to help Vick in the next 2-3 games and come away with victories, they have already taken their mulligan in the Raven's game.

Papillon
 
50/50. Way too many variables to call this right now.
 
It depends how many more times they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. A small window is left for blowing games in the bag. It doesn't matter they let the Cheatriots**** do whatever they want up in Falseboro.
 
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Wild Card at minimum if they don't win the division. The Ratbirds are lousy this year, the Browns are lousy every year, and the Bungles can be counted on to fail down the stretch, i.e. even if they win the division it is likely they will lose in the first round but we will win a wild card. No matter how bad a job Tomlin does and how bad the defense is (and right now it looks better than expected) there is no way we finish worse than second in the AFC North.

 
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Ron Burgundy said:
Wild Card at minimum if they don't win the division. The Ratbirds are lousy this year, the Browns are lousy every year, and the Bungles can be counted on to fail down the stretch, i.e. even if they win the division it is likely they will lose in the first round but we will win a wild card. No matter how bad a job Tomlin does and how bad the defense is (and right now it looks better than expected) there is no way we finish worse than second in the AFC North.
Click to expand...

Ron,

I'm not so sure about the Ravens. They just don't go away. Yes they are 1-3, however they lost by narrow margins. Their next two games are very easy. Browns and 49ers. All of a sudden they could be 3-3. They also play the Jags, Rams and Dolphins.

REGULAR
1 SEP 13 LOSS AT RAVENS 13 BRONCOS 19 GAME DAY
2 SEP 20 LOSS AT RAVENS 33 RAIDERS 37 GAME DAY
3 SEP 27 LOSS BENGALS 28 RAVENS 24 GAME DAY
4 OCT 1 WIN AT RAVENS 23 STEELERS 20 GAME DAY

5 OCT 11 1:00PMEDT * BROWNS
6 OCT 18 4:25PMEDT * AT 49ERS
7 OCT 26 8:30PMEDT + AT CARDINALS
8 NOV 1 1:00PMEST * CHARGERS
9 BYE
10 NOV 15 1:00PMEST * JAGUARS
11 NOV 22 1:00PMEST ) RAMS
12 NOV 30 8:30PMEST + AT BROWNS
13 DEC 6 1:00PMEST * AT DOLPHINS
14 DEC 13 8:30PMEST ' SEAHAWKS
15 DEC 20 1:00PMEST * CHIEFS
16 DEC 27 8:30PMEST ' STEELERS
17 JAN 3 1:00PMEST * AT BENGALS
 
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I honestly don't expect the Steelers to win at San Diego. I'd like them to, but I can't believe Tomlin can come up with a gameplan to win that game. The team on the road to the West Coast without Roethlisberger is a formula for a letdown game. Especially when the Chargers need a win to stay relevant in their division. Add in the new kicker with lots of yips... I don't see the Steelers winning that one. Too many excuses.

The Cardinals will be looking to prove they're not frauds, I expect they will. Not much to say about this one. Palmer and Fitzgerald are just a better combo than Vick and Brown. The Cardinals will be looking to assert themselves as legitimate playoff contenders and there's no better way to do it than against a fragile team against the ropes at home. Beating Pittsburgh would be symbolic if somewhat meaningless when they're neutered and reeling after a couple close losses, but it will still give the Cards some confidence as they move past the 1st third of the season.

They may be able to beat the Chiefs. That one I expect. The team will be in semi panic mode at that point and Tomlin will need something from the troops in order to save face with both the ownership and the fans. I'd look for them to pull this one out.

Then come the Bengals. With our without Ben, I think this is a loss. Even if Ben comes back, I think he's rusty and the game doesn't go too well. I think it ends up in the L column. And I'm not even trying to be negative here. I'm just saying that without Roethlisberger the team is pretty well lost. Tomlin can't gameplan his way out of a supermarket at midnight. He certainly can't figure out how to manage a team that's peaking. Unfortunately for both Cinci and Pittsburgh, the Bengals are peaking too early.

That takes them to the Raiders. When do the Steelers EVER beat the Raiders? It's just freaking karma. I'd love to see it. But for whatever reason God himself seems to enjoy a private chuckle watching the inept Raiders find new and unusual ways for the Raiders to win those games. Imagine what will happen when a relatively competent Raiders team takes the field?

I fully expect the Steelers to beat the Browns. I would be utterly shocked if that didn't happen. I literally couldn't imagine a mid-season loss to the Browns.

I'm too weary to continue. But that gives them 2 victories, fortunately both in the AFC by my count to 3 losses. That would take them to what, 4 and 5? With 6 games to go there would still be an outside chance I expect to get in. Although I don't know if they can beat the Ravens at home. It's tough to play there. And it's possible to be swept by the Bengals. That would clearly take them out of any possible running for the AFC North and make a wildcard pretty difficult to win.

The injury demonstrated just how important Roethlisberger is to this team, not just because he can make the throws but because the staff cannot make up for when he is not on the field.
 
I think chances are pretty good. Besides New England and (sigh) Cincinnati, nobody really stands out to me in the AFC
 
I don't like our chances of winning games with Vick. Nor do I like our chances vs. the Bengals twice, Seattle or Denver. Most likely a 9-7 team which probably gives us a 33% chance of being a wild card.
 
For me it all depends on when Ben comes back. Lets say its closer to 6 weeks than 4 weeks then I think the probability greatly lessens on making the playoffs. I could easily see losing the next 4 games to teams much better than the Ravens without one Ben Rothlisberger. That woud put us at 2-6 and would take winning out to most likely qualify for a wild card. Plus you factor in an unknown for a place kicker who has never attempted a kick in an NFL game and coach Cool Shades and his poor decision making and clock management. I think you guys need to get real here and this kills me to say it but I just don't see playoffs this year. Way too many key injuries and poor coaching decisions to make this a playoff season.
 
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You know, the sad thing is, Tomlin and Haley may have come up with a solid game plan for San Diego if it weren't for a simple twist of fate...

 
98.6% give or take
 
**** those percentages. There are 4 teams with a better record in the AFC as we stand today, than the Steelers. They're still in the hunt. We just need to steel a couple wins before we knee-d Ben to win us some games!
 
I say splitting the 4 Ben game absence would keep the odds good.

But that in itself won't be a easy task.
 
Talking about chances: You want to know how bad they ****** up that Ravens game?
ESPN analyst Matt Williamson was on the radio, said ESPN Stats service told him that with around 2 minutes remaining in the game the Steelers had a 90% chance to win.
 
I say 9-7 record, wild card seeding. 2nd place AFCN
Possible 2nd round playoff team. Thats it
 
100% chance, finish 11-5
 
Rivers plays well against us and without ben i can see the chargers outscoring is. I say we need 24 points to win and that will be pushing it with vick. The cards game will depend on the dline / olbs. If we can pressure palmer we can win. If not it will be tough. Palmer has had a great record as the starter there. We need to somehow go 2-2 with vick to have a chance.
 
Rivers is 2-2 vs the Steelers, averages under 7 ypa and 57% completion, not sure how that is "plays well against us".
 
insaniti said:
Rivers is 2-2 vs the Steelers, averages under 7 ypa and 57% completion, not sure how that is "plays well against us".
Click to expand...

2-3 when you count the post season.
 
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