A glimmer of hope

by Pola-Gona-Maul-U on Nov 23, 2009 12:05 PM EST

I felt so sick to my stomach yesterday after the game. Now we were looking at two back-to-back losses, and we'd just lost to the now 3-7 Kansas City Freaking Chiefs!?!

There was some consolidation at the end of the day, however. The Bengals also lost yesterday to the hapless Oakland Raiders, and we're still in the thick of things for a playoff spot even if we don't win the division.

The Broncos lost their fourth in a row and are now 6-4. We hold the tie-breaker over them since we beat them on Monday Night Football.

The Dolphins are a game behind us at 5-5. That will be an important match-up against them at the end of the season for the Steelers. That may decide whether we make the playoffs or not.

Baltimore, fortunately, fell to 5-5 with a loss to the Colts. We face them next week in prime-time. That will be a HUGE game for both teams, and you know that the Ravens will come out with a fury on both sides of the ball.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 6-4 like us and fighting for a fifth or sixth seed since there's little chance that the Colts will lose the division now at 10-0.

Right now, San Diego leads the AFC West at 7-3 with a win over the Broncos. The good thing there, is that if the Broncos reclaim the lead, and the Chargers fall later in the season, we also hold a tie-breaker against them. I would rather see the Chargers keep winning though, especially in their Week-15 game against the Bengals. The Broncos still have a very tough schedule ahead (They play the Giants, Colts and Eagles through the next six weeks), and could very well miss the playoffs after staring the season 6-0. I'm sure there is turmoil in that locker room.

I still like the Steelers chances at winning a playoff spot, but they certainly didn't help themselves with a loss to the Chiefs. With a win, they might have still been able to win the division. Mathematically, it's not out of the question, yet, but still unlikely.

For more discussion, please visit my blog: Lord's Day, Game Day.

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Speaking of hope glimmers

The Giants played another bad game defensively and the Steelers are now the #1 ranked defensive team. However, we are the 8th ranked team in points given up.

Additionally, our offense moved up to #6 in yards and 15th in scoring. That dispersion is kind of sad.

Wall of Shame
-"I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Brownie's Year
-"BB is ok (slightly overated)…but he is NO Kyle Orton! I’ll take Kyle over Ben any day" - Bronco_Fan_Tom
-PIT 24 KC 27

by John Stephens on Nov 23, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions

anythng is possible

As hard as that loss was, we are still in pretty good shape for a WC and still possible DC, althought we need some help on that. The problem is that, with the exception of the second half at Denver(and now that doesn’t quite have the shine it did at the time) this years team has not played consistent football. It has been a year of just play good enough to win, which as we have seen four times now, is also just bad enough to lose. It is still possible to right the ship and start playing championship caliber football, but if they remain consistent with their inconsistency, I just don’t see them going deep. It is time to quit hitting the snooze button and take this wake up call for what it is.

by DarinS on Nov 23, 2009 12:37 PM EST reply actions

Good line about the snooze Button.

by WyoFan on Nov 23, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

Rec, for you.

Thank you. Finally a reasonable and thoughtout post. Obviosly, things have not gone the way everyone hoped and the Steelers are not currently playing like defending SB champions, but we’re barley past the half-way point…. there’s a lot of football left and the Steelers are still one on the toughest and most dangerous teams in the NFL…

by WETSU on Nov 23, 2009 3:10 PM EST reply actions

we lost to.....

we lost to kc @kc, what was one of the toughest and most ra ra college type venues on the nfl. they had their chance to make their yr by beating the champ on their own campus . they all knew it ,we didn’t even consider it..not real important, but i wonder if tomlin had ever coached @ KC before???

by steelswine on Nov 23, 2009 7:36 PM EST reply actions