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Back in 2011, the Steelers really had a great season, in my opinion the team itself was better than the one that represented the AFC in the Super Bowl in 2010, but the mad rash of injuries in the final weeks -- Ben's high ankle sprain to 3 guys including Mendenhall (who was playing well and trending towards his 3rd straight 1000 season) tearing an ACL led to the Denver debacle. It was the last run for that core group which really wanted to create their own identity separate from the 1970s and they managed to account themselves well.
But when age ended that run and the rebuild started -- one thing I really don't think that has been appreciated is just how quickly the team was back to relevance.
There were a pair of 8-8 seasons in 2012 & 2013, but considering the how hot that 2013 team was going down the stretch -- and the way Kansas City screwed the pooch in that game vs. the Chargers (they deserve every whipping we've given them since), the "rebuilding" should have only had one non-playoff season.
I'm a guy who looks at trends and makes analysis. This one is a pretty simple one to make and a progression that is obvious.
After the 0-4 start in 2013, the Steelers have a 53-25 record (including playoffs), 3 playoff appearances, 2 Division Championships and reached the AFC Championship Game. In none of the playoff losses did they have Bell playing and they still came to within a late fumble of beating the Broncos without Bell, Brown and with an injured Ben.
Imagine if this team could be healthy come the playoffs - since 2013 in the second half of the season they have been 28-7 including through this season.
I don't begrudge any fan of this team with a record of 9-2 having Super Bowl aspirations. It's only the 5th time the Steelers had 9 wins through 11 games -- the previous 4 were the 4 best regular seasons in franchise history.
And yes there is the 800-lb gorilla in the room called New England. The last time the Steelers beat them was the but whooping put on them in 2011 -- when it appeared they could play man-to-man with what was then thought to be up and coming CBs like Cortez Allen and Keenan Lewis.
The last 3 times the Steelers and Patriots have played, the Patriots have won -- never playing Pittsburgh with a full deck (Bell out twice, Ben out once) and two in New England -- and last year they were just a play away from being ahead at the half. I have no doubts that a healthy Steelers team can beat New England.
My only concern with this team is it's identity. The previous core seemed to come together because they were tired of being in the shadows of the 70s Steelers. This team doesn't seem to have that chip on it's shoulder -- I get that organic growth from the previous group is impossible to duplicate; but I'd like to see the burning desire to win it all and maybe that is what Mike Tomlin is trying to install in them. The talent is there in abundance -- it just needs to focus on what that prize really is.
But when age ended that run and the rebuild started -- one thing I really don't think that has been appreciated is just how quickly the team was back to relevance.
There were a pair of 8-8 seasons in 2012 & 2013, but considering the how hot that 2013 team was going down the stretch -- and the way Kansas City screwed the pooch in that game vs. the Chargers (they deserve every whipping we've given them since), the "rebuilding" should have only had one non-playoff season.
I'm a guy who looks at trends and makes analysis. This one is a pretty simple one to make and a progression that is obvious.
After the 0-4 start in 2013, the Steelers have a 53-25 record (including playoffs), 3 playoff appearances, 2 Division Championships and reached the AFC Championship Game. In none of the playoff losses did they have Bell playing and they still came to within a late fumble of beating the Broncos without Bell, Brown and with an injured Ben.
Imagine if this team could be healthy come the playoffs - since 2013 in the second half of the season they have been 28-7 including through this season.
I don't begrudge any fan of this team with a record of 9-2 having Super Bowl aspirations. It's only the 5th time the Steelers had 9 wins through 11 games -- the previous 4 were the 4 best regular seasons in franchise history.
And yes there is the 800-lb gorilla in the room called New England. The last time the Steelers beat them was the but whooping put on them in 2011 -- when it appeared they could play man-to-man with what was then thought to be up and coming CBs like Cortez Allen and Keenan Lewis.
The last 3 times the Steelers and Patriots have played, the Patriots have won -- never playing Pittsburgh with a full deck (Bell out twice, Ben out once) and two in New England -- and last year they were just a play away from being ahead at the half. I have no doubts that a healthy Steelers team can beat New England.
My only concern with this team is it's identity. The previous core seemed to come together because they were tired of being in the shadows of the 70s Steelers. This team doesn't seem to have that chip on it's shoulder -- I get that organic growth from the previous group is impossible to duplicate; but I'd like to see the burning desire to win it all and maybe that is what Mike Tomlin is trying to install in them. The talent is there in abundance -- it just needs to focus on what that prize really is.
