Are You Ready for Some Football - Steelers/Falcons 2014

[Rocco]

So if they make the playoffs, are they overachieving?

Ooooh, good question.

I'll say 10-6.

Is what I said in the season thread, which was more of a wish than a reasonable expectation. Still, if they finish with 10 or 11 wins, and notwithstanding the maddening losses, with the current talent level on D, that is one hell of a season. I can't escape the strange feeling that we'd be one of the worst double digit win teams in my lifetime, but still, very good season.

I had 9-7 with three last-minute losses. The Bucs game is one of the three. I can still be right.

[ulf]

I had 11-5. Also nailed the Buccos record, no big deal

[shmenguin]

at most, there are 4 or 5 teams that are better than the steelers in the AFC. play the season over 100 times, and this team makes the playoffs in the large majority of them. no over achieving here. they still inspire no confidence in me, but i'm not about to say that kansas city or buffalo is a more legitimate team than they are. we have one of the few good QB's in the league, a top 3 RB and a top 3 WR. we should make the playoffs even with our junk defense.

[the wicked child]

The Steelers' D is horrid. Their offense can be truly elite - when Ben is on and Haley doesn't eat paste.

So while they won't win the SB, I would hardly call making the playoffs as overachieving. If they somehow make the AFC championship, maybe.

You just don't know what team you're going to get in any given game, so it's hard ti predict much.

[shmenguin]

If someone said they were the 3rd best team in the AFC id believe it. If someone said they were 8th, I would too.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

MIMH's AFC Power Rankings:

1. NE
2. Denver
----big gap-----
3. Pittsburgh
4. Indy
5. Cincy
6. Baltimore
7. KC
8. Miami
9. SD
10. Houston
11. Buffalo
12. Cleveland
13. NYJ
14. Oak
15. Jax
16. Ten

As per the AFC North teams, Ben is the best QB, Bell is the best RB and Brown is the second best WR (behind Green). That's why I'm going with them. They might have a garbage D but their offense is scary.

[Troy Loney]

Buffalo should be higher.

[shafnutz05]

Buffalo should be higher.

My sentiments exactly.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

I could probably flip them with Houston (actually, I should flip them) but I don't think they're any better than Miami who they split with or SD who they lost to.

SD, Miami and Buffalo are interchangeable imo

[Troy Loney]

1. NE
2. Denver
agree - these two are the top.

3. Indy
4. Pittsburgh
5. Cincy
6. Baltimore
I'd clump these four together as the second tier. I think the order is pretty set though with Baltimore on the bottom and Indy the best of the group.

7. KC
8. Miami
9. SD
10. Buffalo
It's almost impossible to rank this tier, they're interchangeable.

11. Cleveland
12. Houston
Just above the garbage group. Comical QB situations going forward.

13. NYJ
14. Oak
15. Jax
16. Ten

[Pavel Bure]

Steelers lose to KC beat Cincy and play Balt in the first round

[slappybrown]

Denver
NE

Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Cinci

Indy

KC
SD
Buffalo

Miami

CLE

Houston

TEN
JAX

NYJ
OAK

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

@Troy, I agree with the groupings except for KC. I think their wins against NE and Seattle put them up to the second group

[Geezer]

1. NE
2. Denver
agree - these two are the top.

3. Indy
4. Pittsburgh
5. Cincy
6. Baltimore
I'd clump these four together as the second tier. I think the order is pretty set though with Baltimore on the bottom and Indy the best of the group.

7. KC
8. Miami
9. SD
10. Buffalo
It's almost impossible to rank this tier, they're interchangeable.

11. Cleveland
12. Houston
Just above the garbage group. Comical QB situations going forward.

13. NYJ
14. Oak
15. Jax
16. Ten

I'd swap Indy and Pittsburgh although Indy becomes much more formidable in their dome. Could say the same thing about the Steelers at home except they last to two wretched teams at Heinz field this year

[shmenguin]

Don't think healthy Cleveland is better than healthy Houston.