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Outside chance for the division

What scares other teams about the Steelers is not the Defense. What scares other teams about the Steelers is that by their/our standards, the offense had a less than standard day (passing game) and still put up 26 points on what is statistically one of the top defenses in the NFL.

No team is scared of any other team in the NFL. Every top team thinks they can win it. You think the pats****, who have beaten the Steelers 90% of the time they've played them with Brady is really worried about an inconsistent Steelers offense and terrible pass defense? I'm sure the bungles are thinking "I hope we play them again. We lost our QB, starting TE and 2 DBs during the game and Jones didn't play".

The "nobody wants to play us" moto is for teams that are inconsistent and the fans want to hang their hats on one aspect of the game (offense).
 
No team is scared of any other team in the NFL. Every top team thinks they can win it. You think the pats****, who have beaten the Steelers 90% of the time they've played them with Brady is really worried about an inconsistent Steelers offense and terrible pass defense? I'm sure the bungles are thinking "I hope we play them again. We lost our QB, starting TE and 2 DBs during the game and Jones didn't play".

The "nobody wants to play us" moto is for teams that are inconsistent and the fans want to hang their hats on one aspect of the game (offense).

This. This team has a ton of potential. But I saw nothing today that would convince me anyone should be afraid to play the Steelers.
 
The Pats**** defense is decent this year by Pats**** standards although I think we were one of only two teams to hold the Cheating Bastiges From New England to less than 30. Regardless, our only hope is to put up A LOT of points. You might as well count on them scoring 35 and make it your mission to score 40. As I've said before, we got to three SB's in six years but none of those times did we have to face the Pats**** in the playoffs.

Dink and dunk passes are a 3-4 defense weakness. So yes the Steelers had an easier time in the playoffs
 
It's a great thought to have, but all I'm worried about right now is the Denver Broncos. They are a great team but playing us in Heinz is not going to be easy on them. Should be a great game

After the slapping the Raider's defense put on the Denver o line and Ostweiler, I think our D should be looking forward to that match up.
 
Once more... the tiebreaker the Jets are currently beating us in is Conference record... they have the same amount of afc losses, but have won one more afc game. they play Dallas next... if we both win next week, then we will have the same amount of AFC wins as them and we will leapfrog them based on "common opponents", the next tiebreaker....

If we win, that is....
 
Looks like we don't control our own destiny... even if we win out we are not guaranteed a playoff spot.

Not correct.
 
Winning out is a tall order. Depending on others to lose is a waste of time. The Jets and Chiefs both won today. Until either loses even with Steelers wins they can't get off 7th seed.
 
I have a funny feeling this team is about to go on a Ben inspired streak....also Harrison is looking nasty again so we just need to win out and we should be in...
No way all the other 3 teams we are competing against win out if we do.
 
Winning out is a tall order. Depending on others to lose is a waste of time. The Jets and Chiefs both won today. Until either loses even with Steelers wins they can't get off 7th seed.

That makes no sense we don't depend on others to lose. yes winning out is tough but certainly not impossible. If we do it matters not what the others do.
 
Beating Denver next week would give us the tiebreak with the Jets vs common opponents.
 
Hard to say how the bengals will be without Dalton. McCarron made a few throws but he also seemed to be locked in on where he wanted to throw. The Steelers poor secondary was able to get a pick 6.
 
Hard to say how the bengals will be without Dalton. McCarron made a few throws but he also seemed to be locked in on where he wanted to throw. The Steelers poor secondary was able to get a pick 6.

We'll see how good he looks when teams have his tendencies on film and scheme for him.
 
Hard to say how the bengals will be without Dalton. McCarron made a few throws but he also seemed to be locked in on where he wanted to throw. The Steelers poor secondary was able to get a pick 6.

McCarron was throwing high all day and didn't face a whole lot of pressure. He did make some nice throws, but look at the secondary he got to face. The Bengals will struggle without Dalton, but still have enough talent to compete every week.
 
We just need to win our remaining games which hopefully this team is up to the challenge ahead of them. They do understand that they control their own destiny regardless of what the others do!!!
 
The bad news is the Bengals, no matter what, will have to lose the last game of the year at home against the Ravens for the Steelers to have a chance at the division. And from what I can determine, it looks like Pittsburgh will have to win it outright, because if they finish tied, all tiebreakers down through #5 (strength-of-victory) favor Cincinnati. The good news is, if the Steelers get in as a wild card, they will either face a weak AFC South opponent or probably the Bengals again on the road -- where they've won 13 of their last 15 games.

EDIT: ESPN playoff machine has the Steelers winning the division at 11-5 if the Bengals beat San Fran and lose their last two, with the rest of the games based on power rankings. Too tired to double-check.
 
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At least the Denver game is at home. What worries me is Blake getting roasted over and over again.
 
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The bad news is the Bengals, no matter what, will have to lose the last game of the year at home against the Ravens for the Steelers to have a chance at the division. And from what I can determine, it looks like Pittsburgh will have to win it outright, because if they finish tied, all tiebreakers down through #5 (strength-of-victory) favor Cincinnati. The good news is, if the Steelers get in as a wild card, they will either face a weak AFC South opponent or probably the Bengals again on the road -- where they've won 13 of their last 15 games.

EDIT: ESPN playoff machine has the Steelers winning the division at 11-5 if the Bengals beat San Fran and lose their last two, with the rest of the games based on power rankings. Too tired to double-check.


next week's SF game vs cinci really doesn't matter too much to us... if the Ravens and Broncos beat the bengals and the steelers win out, the tie will fall to strength of victory... assuming no more upsets for the steelers opponents, they will win the division on that, but that is a very specific scenario... much like the jets playing the Cowboys really doesn't matter to us... its that weird NFL tiebreaking stuff that comes out during these moments...

If the bengals lose out and we win out, we get the division on record... otherwise if the bengals win vs SF and lose the other two and we win out its ours assuming that the SOV doesn't dramatically change in that time. if the Bengals lose to the 49rs, but only lose 1 of their other two games, they get it based on division record or conference record


TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more teams in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

Two teams
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the teams).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
 
It's been hinted at but not said in this thead but IF ( a big if considering the ups and downs of this season) the Stiller win out and get into the playoffs they are dangerous. We have had a BOAT load of injuries to key people at the wrong time all season. Suisam (sp), Pouncey, Big Ben, Bell, Beachum. Yet despite all of that this team is 8-5. Frankly when Ben when down I thought we would be lucky to win 4 games all season.

Add into that a very young and inexperienced D that needed time to mature to be competitive and this season looked like trouble. Remember the company line of the Offense having to carry the Defense?

I agree that the Patriots are tough, but injuries have made them human AND they still have Brady. If he is out of the mix they are toast.

To run the table is a tall order, starting with Denver, but the Stillers always seem to play better when their back is to the wall.

Let's run the table and let the chips fall where they fall. If that happens and this team gets into the playoffs LOOK OUT!:gopitt:
 
next week's SF game vs cinci really doesn't matter too much to us... if the Ravens and Broncos beat the bengals and the steelers win out, the tie will fall to strength of victory... assuming no more upsets for the steelers opponents, they will win the division on that, but that is a very specific scenario... much like the jets playing the Cowboys really doesn't matter to us... its that weird NFL tiebreaking stuff that comes out during these moments...

If the bengals lose out and we win out, we get the division on record... otherwise if the bengals win vs SF and lose the other two and we win out its ours assuming that the SOV doesn't dramatically change in that time. if the Bengals lose to the 49rs, but only lose 1 of their other two games, they get it based on division record or conference record


TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more teams in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

Two teams
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the teams).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.

I would think that Cincinnati-San Fran would have some relevance because it is a "common game," and the Steelers have already beaten the 49ers. That's why I thought it would fall to SOV if the Bengals beat SF, lose their last two, and the Steelers win out.

In that case, common games would look like this:

They both beat the Browns twice.
They both split with the Ravens.
They both beat Oakland.
They both beat San Diego.
They both beat St. Louis.
They both beat San Francisco.
Cincinnati beat the Chiefs and Seahawks, Steelers lost both.
Steelers beat the Cardinals and Broncos, Cincinnati lost both.

So common games would be equal, as would conference games at 8-4. Then SOV comes into play, and who knows what that will look like in three weeks. I'd rather see SF win -- makes things a lot more simple.
 
I would think that Cincinnati-San Fran would have some relevance because it is a "common game," and the Steelers have already beaten the 49ers. That's why I thought it would fall to SOV if the Bengals beat SF, lose their last two, and the Steelers win out.

In that case, common games would look like this:

They both beat the Browns twice.
They both split with the Ravens.
They both beat Oakland.
They both beat San Diego.
They both beat St. Louis.
They both beat San Francisco.
Cincinnati beat the Chiefs and Seahawks, Steelers lost both.
Steelers beat the Cardinals and Broncos, Cincinnati lost both.

So common games would be equal, as would conference games at 8-4. Then SOV comes into play, and who knows what that will look like in three weeks. I'd rather see SF win -- makes things a lot more simple.

Thanks for breaking this down. I expect the Bengals to pound the 49ers though. Didn't the 49ers just give up 9 sacks to the Browns --- how is that even possible? In a weird way, the Dalton injury might help the Bengals in the short term by forcing them to run the ball instead of getting so damn cute on offense. There's no reason - short of giving the game away - that the Bengals shouldn't crush the 49ers on both sides of the ball, but of course I'll root for the Bungles to be the Bungles.
 
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