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Wild Card

T

t-man

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I'll say it now, to save the rest of you from needing to. This team is going to be a wild card team. Prior to this game I thought we were going to take the division. And without a Bell injury that's going to last a few weeks, I might still have held out hope, but given the way this game went, and then injury, we are a wild card team. Best to accept that now, and move forward knowing it. We SHOULD get into the playoffs, but it is going to be as a wild card, and we will have an uphill battle. As long as we get the KEY players healthy at the right time, it could still be our year, but if that doesn't happen, it's going to quickly turn to next years chances. Health, as always, is a HUGE factor in the playoff hunt, this year is no exception.

Here we go Steelers here we GO!

Joe
 
I see no post season we can't pull out games. last week and this we had a great chance to win, against the cardinals was somewhat a fluke we pulled it out. Either the defense does well and offense sputters or the opposite, I thought we would be better but today we showed what we love to do, let a team stay around and then we falter. I hate it but today showed a lot, penalties at wrong time, not capitalizing on turnovers, wide receivers no where to be found and yet one, Brown wanted to point out the QB for not throwing to him a week ago.. Out of pounds Brown where were you today,
 
I think saying they will only be a wild card team (if that) is a fair statement.

Games will take on greater urgency from this point on....
 
Punxsutawney said:
The only real competition for the AFC wildcard spots are the Jets and Raiders.

I kind of like their chances.
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the Raider game will be huge, it is up to Tomlin to make that a point in preparation...
 
We have 4 losses and still have several games against teams with winning records. I put our playoff chances at 1 in 3.
 
So, to be a wildcard at best we need a 9-7 record and with 4 AFC loses that may be not feasible. We would need to win 5 of the last 8 games. You have a very good Denver team, a trip to a very good Bengal team, a trip to the defending NFC Champion Seahawks, an always tough game against the Raiders, a trip to Cleveland where we've been losing lately, a trip to Baltimore where its always tough for us to win. I think this team goes 8-8 at best. Too many key injuries on offense and if Bell is through we're through.
 
steelhurt said:
So, to be a wildcard at best we need a 9-7 record and with 4 AFC loses that may be not feasible. We would need to win 5 of the last 8 games. You have a very good Denver team, a trip to a very good Bengal team, a trip to the defending NFC Champion Seahawks, an always tough game against the Raiders, a trip to Cleveland where we've been losing lately, a trip to Baltimore where its always tough for us to win. I think this team goes 8-8 at best. Too many key injuries on offense and if Bell is through we're through.
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A very well-reasoned post. I don't see us beating the Raiders either.
 
Steelerfan said:
A very well-reasoned post. I don't see us beating the Raiders either.
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I was thinking 6 out of 8 is needed for a appearance but yeah...
 
We will most likely lose to Bengals in the 2nd game in Cinci.. but if we somehow make the playoffs and find ourselves going to Cinci, you best your *** I like our chances then.
Bengals are good but they don't look any better than they did last year IMO. I think it is more of testament of just how top heavy the league is. There are a number of contenders at the top then everyone else falls far below.
 
mdk2 said:
We will most likely lose to Bengals in the 2nd game in Cinci.. but if we somehow make the playoffs and find ourselves going to Cinci, you best your *** I like our chances then.
Bengals are good but they don't look any better than they did last year IMO. I think it is more of testament of just how top heavy the league is. There are a number of contenders at the top then everyone else falls far below.
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Yep and we are a top-level team hanging out in the middle because our offense hasn't been together yet all season and all of our top 5 or 6 best players on O have missed significant time except AB (Ben, Bell, Pouncey, Bryant, Beachum)
 
I figured this team would be 7-9 at the beginning of the season and nothing I've seen so far inspires me to change this prediction. No way we beat the Bengals at Cincinnati, the Seahawks in Seattle, or the Broncos. That's three more losses. Toss in at least one typical loss to a bottom feeder and that puts us at 8-8. I'm thinking we lose at Baltimore and possible split games with the Browns. With Ben starting, we've scored an average of 11 points a game in the last two games he started. Ben has no mobility yet and with Bell out 4 - 6 weeks this season is over.
 
t-man said:
I'll say it now, to save the rest of you from needing to. This team is going to be a wild card team. Prior to this game I thought we were going to take the division. And without a Bell injury that's going to last a few weeks, I might still have held out hope, but given the way this game went, and then injury, we are a wild card team. Best to accept that now, and move forward knowing it. We SHOULD get into the playoffs, but it is going to be as a wild card, and we will have an uphill battle. As long as we get the KEY players healthy at the right time, it could still be our year, but if that doesn't happen, it's going to quickly turn to next years chances. Health, as always, is a HUGE factor in the playoff hunt, this year is no exception.

Here we go Steelers here we GO!

Joe
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Saying in my best Jim Mora voice---"Playoffs? Playoffs!:?
 
Well.....after today the playoffs for the Steelers start next week. Urgency needs to be kicked into high gear and stack some wins.

Next week we will find out what this team is made of. They absolutely have to beat the Raiders who are also in the hunt for the playoffs.....

Playoffs start next week for these Steelers.
 
steelhurt said:
So, to be a wildcard at best we need a 9-7 record and with 4 AFC loses that may be not feasible. We would need to win 5 of the last 8 games. You have a very good Denver team, a trip to a very good Bengal team, a trip to the defending NFC Champion Seahawks, an always tough game against the Raiders, a trip to Cleveland where we've been losing lately, a trip to Baltimore where its always tough for us to win. I think this team goes 8-8 at best. Too many key injuries on offense and if Bell is through we're through.
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Well ****, might as well just pack it all in and not even play the games. They are just way too hard... We played one of our worst offensive games and still had a chance at the end against the Bengals. The Seahawks beat a Cowboys team with a hobbled Bryant, Matt Cassel at QB, and the Refs on their side, color me unimpressed still. We were supposed to lose to the Chargers too, you know because we "always" struggle against them in San Diego. The Raiders are a much improved team indeed, but they aren't unbeatable. Losing lately in Cleveland? We are 8-3 in Cleveland since 2004...sometimes I wonder where you guys pull these statements from. Also tough for us to win in Baltimore? That game is always a 50/50 game, but I don't think that will be the case this year. They barely beat us with Mike Vick starting and that was on TWO days practice. The only REALLY tough game you listed is the Broncos game, and we still don't know how well Manning's arm will look come December.

Lots can change between now and then. Ben had a lot of rust, was throwing high, trying to do too much. WR were dropping balls uncharacteristically, our starting RB went down with a nasty injury that clearly took the air out of the stadium. These are all things that can be addressed and will be addressed this week in practice. I'm more concerned with Gilbert, he was beat like a drum all night long, had a few costly drive killing penalties. We shot ourselves in the foot on more than one occasion. But it's all doom and gloom, the season is over, just give up, there's no point...
 
obxsteeler said:
I am sure no one on this team understands that.
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Their "understanding" must have taken a day off yesterday. That was kind of a huge game.

I'm still not impressed by Cincinnati either......Dalton was becoming Dalton again yesterday. We just couldn't keep our gun pointed at them instead of our own feet.
 
Everyone keeps blowing off the Raiders like they are nothing. Are they great? No. But they are much improved and we could never beat them when they sucked. I'm not very optimistic about this game and many others left on the schedule. 8 - 8 and no playoff's is likely.
 
honestly, i think it is (relatively speaking) a fairly easy path to the WC. That being said, NE will crush us as always. I think our new-found QB pressuring ability can get to Peyton Manning. Bungals are the Bungals
 
GI Steeler said:
honestly, i think it is (relatively speaking) a fairly easy path to the WC.
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Look at our record and that of the Jets and the Raiders. Do the same thing with the remaining schedules and then come back and explain this easy path of which you speak.
 
Troglodyte said:
Look at our record and that of the Jets and the Raiders. Do the same thing with the remaining schedules and then come back and explain this easy path of which you speak.
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I didn't check the schedules, but didn't the Jets lose Fitzpatrick and Smith and are now looking for a quarterback? I'm not sure they will be able to win the requisite number of games with a QB off the street or even if they make a trade for a backup, such as, Mettenberger, Griffin or pick up Mallett. I'm not sure what else is out there. I think the Jets are in a world of hurt.

Papillon
 
steelhurt said:
So, to be a wildcard at best we need a 9-7 record and with 4 AFC loses that may be not feasible. We would need to win 5 of the last 8 games. You have a very good Denver team, a trip to a very good Bengal team, a trip to the defending NFC Champion Seahawks, an always tough game against the Raiders, a trip to Cleveland where we've been losing lately, a trip to Baltimore where its always tough for us to win. I think this team goes 8-8 at best. Too many key injuries on offense and if Bell is through we're through.
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10-6 is needed. I think we will be okay without Bell. Players like Miller or Wheaton will get the ball more often.
 
papillon said:
I didn't check the schedules, but didn't the Jets lose Fitzpatrick and Smith and are now looking for a quarterback? I'm not sure they will be able to win the requisite number of games with a QB off the street or even if they make a trade for a backup, such as, Mettenberger, Griffin or pick up Mallett. I'm not sure what else is out there. I think the Jets are in a world of hurt.

Papillon
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I'd trade them Vick. For nothing.
 
Wildcards will likely come down to Steelers, Raiders, Jets, Bills for 2 spots.

Jets may be without Fitzpatrick for some time with torn ligaments in his non throwing hand. He probably sits a few weeks until his hand is strong enough to take a snap or catch a shotgun snap. Geno Smith is terrible.

Raiders - Carr is looking much better but he panics under pressure. Jets pass rush is one of the worst this year which is why Carr did well against them. Steelers are 5th in sacks. I expect some turnovers.

Steelers need 6 wins for 10
Raiders
Browns
Colts
@ Bengals
@ Ravens
@ Browns

I think they win those 6 and lost @ Seattle and vs Denver. I'd like the steelers vs Seattle in Pitt but not in Seattle. They never play well out there.

The only reason they have a shot vs Denver is that it's home and by that time (Week 15), Denver may not have much to play for.

This Raider game is must win. The 5th seed will get to play the ****** winner of the AFC South. The 6th Seed has to play at Denver, NE or Cincy.
 
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