Are we the '08 Ravens?

by Pola-Gona-Maul-U on Nov 16, 2009 3:15 PM EST

That question, actually stems from another question. Are the Bengals the '08 Steelers?

Now, naturally the Bengals' defense is nowhere near as good as the Steelers' defense was last year (and I'm NOT saying the Bengals will win the Super Bowl) but my goodness, their defense has improved. The Steelers were 0 for 4 in scoring touchdowns from the Red Zone, and already the Bengals have swept the Ravens and now (sigh) us. They are 5-0 in their division and there's no reason to believe that the Browns can upset them in their next match up.

Like the Ravens last year, the Steelers are still a very, very solid team despite being swept by the Bengals. If we don't make the playoffs as a wild card I will be completely shocked. I don't believe we can win the division now, even though it's still mathematically possible with 7 games left. We would have to win out and the Bengals would have to lose at least two games, but they're already sitting very pretty and the Browns are the only ones who can keep them from sweeping the AFC North completely.

That won't happen.

I've underestimated the Bengals all year. Now I'm a believer, and unfortunately now they can actually chant their obnoxious "Who Dey" chant.

Now the question becomes, can the Bengals beat the Steelers three times just as we beat the Ravens tree times last year on the way to the Super Bowl?

Man, do I hope not.

That will cause something very terrible to snap in my psyche.

The problem now for the Steelers is that we still have to face the Ravens twice, and they're not suckers of the division yet, even though their record is 4-4 pending tonight's game against the Browns (is that even worth watching?).

The Bengals' remaining games are against Oakland, Cleveland, Detroit, Minnesota, San Diego, Kansas City and the Jets.

San Diego is playing like people expected them at the start of the season, so they'll pose a threat and my hopes is that Minnesota and the Jets will put a beating on Cincy. But I won't underestimate them anymore this year. They're very capable of finishing the season 13-3 if they keep playing like they're playing.

The Steelers, on the other hand, still have to face Kansas City, Baltimore (twice), Oakland, Cleveland, Green Bay and Miami.

I believe the Steelers are good enough to beat every one of those teams, but I know they won't.

What do you people think will be the Steelers' final record?

And will a record of 11-5 be good enough to earn a playoff spot?

We shall see. All I know is that I'm going to be watching carefully the rest of the AFC teams from this point forward.

For more discussion on this, please check out my blog: Lord's Day, Game Day.

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Oh no he didn't!

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Nov 16, 2009 4:13 PM EST reply actions

We are fine.....

If memory serves, we were 6-3 at this point last tear. Baltimore had lost 3 in a row (at the beginning of the season) to us, Indy and the Titans yet, after we lost a tough week 10 game at home (sound familiar?) against the Colts, they (Baltimore) tied us atop the AFC North. After that game, we went on to play some pretty inspired ball, beating San Diego, New England, Dallas, and Baltimore (among others). We finished last year on a 6-1 tear, which carried us to our 6th Super Bowl Championship.

Am I worried about this year? Who isn’t? Losing two to the Bengals in any year would not be considered good!

Do I think they will get to the playoffs? With the schedule we have, absolutely yes! We should (at the very least) be the top wild card team.

Do I think we can still win the division? Yes, they are 2 games up (since they own all the tie breakers) with 7 to go. Anything can happen. I know going to San Diego and to Minnesota and finsihing with a road game against the Jets will not be easy games. However, we have two with Baltimore, but realistically, those other teams we play, if we play the way we should, we should beat them.

While we are not in the best of positions division wise, we are in great shape conference wise, and the playoffs should be a lock.

The team that is playing its best ball at the end of the year is usually the team the goes deep in the playoffs. As last year demonstrates, losing a week 10 game at home doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things.

GO STEELERS!

by imike29 on Nov 16, 2009 4:51 PM EST reply actions

Agreed! BUT

We didnt give up all those special teams points! AND, our defense cant get off the field..

by nycsteelerfan on Nov 16, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

Now that is level headed thinking imike29

by StoneColdSteel on Nov 16, 2009 8:00 PM EST up reply actions

This is

the 09 Steelers, they aren’t like any other past team, they are their own team. I still like their chances to win the division, even if that means winning all 7 of the remaining games.

by GDEUCE on Nov 16, 2009 5:53 PM EST reply actions

Really my intent for this post was, “Can the Bengals beat us three times in one year?”

If we beat the Bengals in the playoffs (which I think we can certainly do) then all is fine.

But what repercussions will ensue if we lose 3 times to the Bengals? Does the tide shift?

I don’t believe it does. The bengals have to prove they can do this in the long haul over several years. But it’s something to consider.

When faith in God and love for the Steelers collide...

http://michelsauret.blogspot.com

by Pola-Gona-Maul-U on Nov 16, 2009 7:17 PM EST reply actions

Considering that the bengals are thinking about bringing in the locker room cancer Larry Johnson

I don’t think their FO has learned how to but a team together yet and if Carson goes down it could turn bad quickly is J.T O’Sullivan, or little brother Jordan going to lead the bengals to the playoff I think not, and even if its late and the season and the Bengals have cliched they’re not winning a playoff game with those two leading the team. Also how will the bengals respond ot being the hunted in the division instead of the hunter will they crack under pressure, will Chad Johnson say something stupid, is cedric benson really a defrent player or is he the beneficary of a OLine that is playing at a high level we will see.

"From time to time gunfighters get shot."-Mike Tomlin the third greatest Steelers coach

by WVPiratesfan on Nov 16, 2009 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

The Bengals are better this year; but not much

Consider that Palmer hit our DBs in the hands with the ball 2 or 3 times and they couldn’t catch it. Consider that Ben had one of his worst games ever. And consider that we gave up another KO return for a TD. Our wounds were self-inflicted in both games against Cincy this year.

by Billy52 on Nov 16, 2009 11:21 PM EST reply actions

Palmer

was pretty much shut down, as was their running game, we just didnt execute in the redzone

by GDEUCE on Nov 17, 2009 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

we are fine

ben seems to have these bad games at least a couple times a year. He just wakes up and has crappy sundays just like last year vs the giants, colts, ravens, eagles, titans, redskins, browns. we only won three of those six games and two of those horrible games he didn’t finish. So mix that with TP missing the game, and it still took a special teams play to win the game for them, the Steelers as a whole are just fine. This is going perfectly for us, we are getting doubted and as defending superbowl champions it is something we will need to get us fired up come playoff time. Ben will come around, he always does, we just want him to get his terrible games out of the way before playoffs.

by Bleed-Black&Gold on Nov 17, 2009 10:14 AM EST reply actions

"We don't supscribe to that hocus pocus."

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Nov 17, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions

breathe in deep feel your heart beat, just to know that life's worth livin'. feel your feet on the earth, better love it while it's still here spinnin'.

by NoCal-SteelCity on Nov 17, 2009 7:12 PM EST up reply actions