A Letter From the Editor: Why not talk about the playoffs?!

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter their bye week with a 2-4 record. Hardly ideal, but one of the common narratives which has been ongoing since the team’s 0-3 start has been the, “Don’t talk about the playoffs...just one game at a time.”

Our own Dave Schofield even penned an article based around this theory, and it certainly has merit. Why look ahead to the postseason when the team is putting nothing but a dismal performance on the field week in and week out?

It makes you think of the legendary post-game comments made by Jim Mora when he was coaching the Indianapolis Colts.

Just in case you forgot...

Call me the eternal optimist, which I am when talking about the Steelers, but I can’t help but ask people who say don’t think about the playoffs...

“Why not?!”

I understand the challenge awaiting the Steelers. I also understand that both history and statistics don’t weigh in their favor when it comes to punching their ticket to the NFL Playoffs. But why in the world should we not look at what would need to happen for the Steelers to make the playoffs?

Some live in a world filled with impossibilities, and others live in one where nothing is impossible. In 2005, no NFL team had ever entered the postseason as a No. 6 seed and go on the road all the way to a Super Bowl victory.

We all know how that played out...

The Steelers have a long way to go, and will certainly need help, before the playoffs become a realistic opportunity, but, in my opinion, this doesn’t mean the fans can’t talk about scenarios and root for the best possible outcome for the black-and-gold.

Clearly, all of this talk will become a moot point if the team can’t get back on the winning track coming off their Week 7 bye week, but for those like me, go ahead and look at the Baltimore Ravens’ remaining schedule. Diagnose the tough and easy games remaining for the Cleveland Browns. Keep tabs on the Wild Card race.

Why? Because as long as the Steelers are still a viable candidate for the playoffs that should be the ultimate goal! Should the team be focusing on one game at a time? Absolutely, but the last time I checked, me focusing on things going on “outside their stadium”, as Mike Tomlin would say, has absolutely zero impact on the outcome of the game.

So, are you like me? Do you pine for the playoffs to the point where you are looking ahead at the remainder of the schedule wondering what could be? Or are you a “one game at a time” person?