Why do fans act like the team is 4-10?

[plenewken]

Originally Posted by JCPsteelers

The Patriots game is the only one where we got outclassed. The other 3 losses we had a chance to win. Heck I think if Miller doesn't fumble in NO, we were going to take the lead there and possibly win that game.


The team has issues on offensive execution and covering guys in the secondary (most notably its corners). Doesn't mean we can't win in the playoffs although I'd be surprised if they won in NE. Just have to see them beat Brady in a playoff atmosphere before I can believe they can win against them.

We lost 4 games but le'ts not forget a couple of lucky wins too, in Miami (thanks to the refs) and in Buffalo (thanks to Stevie Johnson). The Steelers don't play like a 11-4 team, especially offensively.

If they don't achieve more efficiency offensively and particularly in the red zone, beating the Patriots at Gillette is pretty much a pipe dream because our secondary will not shut the Pats down, no way. Even with a good defense, it will take at least 30 points to beat them and FGs won't cut the mustard. We'll need 4 TDs and a couple FGs and I don't think our offense can do it. Heck, we couldn't do it against Carolina last night.

[Riddle_Of_Steel]

Originally Posted by steelcity1974

We have big problems on the O line and special teams coverage...but what's new? The key for us going deep into the playoffs is 1. health of Troy (and getting Aaron Smith back won't hurt), 2. health of Ben, 3. better play from O line and special teams (don't have to be great...just NOT horrible). To me it's as simple as that and we can beat anyone, including Patriots. I still think we played them first time around with a vanila defense and things will be totally different in the playoffs.

This^^^^

[ZoneBlitzer]

Originally Posted by plenewken

We lost 4 games but le'ts not forget a couple of lucky wins too, in Miami (thanks to the refs) and in Buffalo (thanks to Stevie Johnson). The Steelers don't play like a 11-4 team, especially offensively.

If they don't achieve more efficiency offensively and particularly in the red zone, beating the Patriots at Gillette is pretty much a pipe dream because our secondary will not shut the Pats down, no way. Even with a good defense, it will take at least 30 points to beat them and FGs won't cut the mustard. We'll need 4 TDs and a couple FGs and I don't think our offense can do it. Heck, we couldn't do it against Carolina last night.

Yup. Spot on.

[Third Rail]

The team has problems, there's no doubt... but the team had problems in 2008, too. And honestly, some things have been better for us this season than in 08: 1. we have a running game 2. Ben's thrown a lot less picks 3. the O-Line (at least in the past two weeks) has been blocking better. Sure, there are plenty of negatives, but any way you look at it, 11-4 is a great record. We make it 12-4 and we definitely have a bye week to get ready for the playoffs, where we tend to shine. It's true, we could choke in the post-season. But we could also end up with Number 7. No team in the league is unbeatable. Yes, the Pats killed us earlier this year, but they also lost to the Browns. The same Browns we smacked down easily. Yes, the Falcons are tied for the best record in the NFL, but guess who beat them (with a raw, inexperienced backup QB, no less)?

Our offense last year was (statistically) better than it has been this year. And yet we wound up 9-7, and because we lost to some really bad teams. Last year can mostly be blamed on our bad defense and horrid special teams. This year, our defense has been tops (other than the Pats game) but our offense has sputtered a bit. Still, I'll take a team that is good overall than a team who is lopsided. That's how you end up 8-8 or worse.

[lionslicer]

Originally Posted by Third Rail

The team has problems, there's no doubt... but the team had problems in 2008, too. And honestly, some things have been better for us this season than in 08: 1. we have a running game 2. Ben's thrown a lot less picks 3. the O-Line (at least in the past two weeks) has been blocking better. Sure, there are plenty of negatives, but any way you look at it, 11-4 is a great record. We make it 12-4 and we definitely have a bye week to get ready for the playoffs, where we tend to shine. It's true, we could choke in the post-season. But we could also end up with Number 7. No team in the league is unbeatable. Yes, the Pats killed us earlier this year, but they also lost to the Browns. The same Browns we smacked down easily. Yes, the Falcons are tied for the best record in the NFL, but guess who beat them (with a raw, inexperienced backup QB, no less)?

Our offense last year was (statistically) better than it has been this year. And yet we wound up 9-7, and because we lost to some really bad teams. Last year can mostly be blamed on our bad defense and horrid special teams. This year, our defense has been tops (other than the Pats game) but our offense has sputtered a bit. Still, I'll take a team that is good overall than a team who is lopsided. That's how you end up 8-8 or worse.

Saintsa couple years ago were 8-8 or 9-7 and had a top offense. Chargershave the worst special teams unit in football (top in offense and defense) and there's a good chance they don't make the playoffs. Colts can't run the ball and their defense can't stop the run, they lost 3 straight, almost dropping out of the playoffs. Colts fans were calling for Mannings head, but now they might make the playoffs.

I can go on, no team is perfect, but if a team stays balanced they'll get somewhere in this league. Steelers are balanced as they'll get until the line gets better, but lets just hope the coaches beat some sense into them during the next 10 days and if they beat the browns, during the bye week.