A look at the playoff teams - how they differ from Pgh

[whisper]

Looking at who is left in the playoffs, and even who was in but has been knocked out, one thing is obvious: They all score more points than Pgh. They don't all rush the ball or play better D than Pgh, but they ALL score more. So moving forward, knowing Cool Shades plan of "piss your pants offense," and being terrified of turnovers, the future ain't bright in Pgh, not with the weak-scoring O that Cool Shades, and his trusty scholarship-giving OC, have placed in motion, moving forward. The likely top 4 happen to be the top 4 highest scoring team, with

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/points-per-game

Look at the top of list, what jumps out at you? The playoff teams own the top of the "points scored" list. Pgh is 26th, with 18.1 ppg. KC is a full 10 points higher than that, and happen to be favorites to win it all. Gee, imagine that. (The other likely top 4 are top 4 and the 5th in SF.) Gee whiz, how close is Pgh to being near the top of this list, the list that perfectly mirrors the top true contenders? 26th. Down with the league losers.

But can we expect a big jump in scoring next year, up to the top 7 where all the contenders reside? How? What moves can we expect to get us there? A new OC? Nope. Same old system that has us at 26th. A new philosophy? Nope, it will still be Shades old schtick that leads to near the bottom of the league in scoring. As a matter of fact, we are just barely 1 point higher of ppg than that of the team in the basement, Denver (16.9 vs 18.1). The bottom line: we are no where NEAR contending with this Cool Shades bozo in charge. Get used to it.

1 Kansas City 29.1 28.3 27.0 25.3 32.8 29.4
2 Buffalo 28.8 34.7 34.0 32.1 25.8 29.8
3 Philadelphia 28.6 23.3 38.0 28.0 29.4 25.5
4 Dallas 27.7 21.3 31.0 30.0 25.3 30.4
5 San Francisco 27.3 38.7 41.0 29.3 24.8 24.0
6 Detroit 26.6 28.0 20.0 33.1 19.4 19.1
7 Cincinnati 26.0 24.3 24.0 28.1 24.1 26.3
8 Minnesota 24.9 23.3 24.0 26.7 22.6 25.0
9 Jacksonville 23.9 23.7 20.0 24.1 23.8 14.9
10 Seattle 23.9 21.7 23.0 22.1 25.7 23.2
11 Miami 23.8 21.0 31.0 21.6 25.5 20.1
12 LA Chargers 23.4 29.7 30.0 21.8 24.7 27.9
13 Las Vegas 23.2 19.0 13.0 27.1 19.8 21.8
14 Green Bay 21.8 27.7 16.0 24.1 19.7 25.6
15 Atlanta 21.5 19.7 30.0 24.9 17.6 18.4
16 New England 21.4 21.3 23.0 19.5 23.1 26.6
17 Cleveland 21.2 16.0 14.0 22.5 20.1 20.5
18 NY Giants 21.2 18.0 7.0 22.3 20.2 15.2
19 Carolina 20.4 23.7 10.0 22.1 18.5 17.9
20 Baltimore 20.4 15.3 17.0 19.1 21.4 22.8
21 Arizona 20.0 16.0 13.0 20.8 19.3 25.6
22 New Orleans 19.4 14.7 7.0 20.9 18.1 21.4
23 Chicago 19.2 12.0 13.0 19.6 18.8 18.3
24 Washington 18.9 18.7 26.0 17.8 20.1 19.7
25 Tampa Bay 18.2 20.3 14.0 20.7 15.7 29.9
26 Pittsburgh 18.1 19.0 28.0 19.9 16.6 20.2
27 LA Rams 18.1 25.7 16.0 21.9 13.8 27.0
28 Tennessee 17.5 14.3 16.0 18.1 17.0 24.2
29 NY Jets 17.4 5.0 6.0 18.6 16.3 18.2
30 Houston 17.0 18.0 32.0 15.3 18.6 16.5
30 Indianapolis 17.0 14.7 31.0 19.3 15.0 26.5
32 Denver 16.9 23.0 31.0 18.0 15.9 19.7

[flippy]

If you look at our numbers after the bye, we’re at about 21 points per game which is right down the middle.

Im ok with that on a couple levels.

1. Rookie QB

2. OLine improving

3. Running game improving

4. More points than 2021 season

5. We are conservative and limiting the number of possession which should push scoring down in our games.

6. D will have TJ back next year which should lead to more turnovers.

7. Kenny is making strides and building confidence

[whisper]

If you look at our numbers after the bye, we’re at about 21 points per game which is right down the middle.

Im ok with that on a couple levels.

1. Rookie QB

2. OLine improving

3. Running game improving

4. More points than 2021 season

5. We are conservative and limiting the number of possession which should push scoring down in our games.

6. D will have TJ back next year which should lead to more turnovers.

7. Kenny is making strides and building confidence

But the avg of 20 ppg is no where near to providing contention #s. It's putting us in the Carolina and AZ level of ppg. With a really good D, it could sneak us into the playoffs, like Balt., but it's not gonna get us into truly contending category; more like the "one and done" playoff blow out loss like we are used to with Cool Shades leading things. The true contenders are all top 7 ppg teams. Being 26th, or 16th, for that matter, isn't gonna put us anywhere near actually contention. Not even close. But that is Tomlin football, and it ain't gonna cut it.

[whatever]

I would imagine all the playoff teams have above average olines.
I know how many of you guys liked the shiny skill positions we drafted, but a good oline makes all of the other positions better.
I’ve been saying draft oline for years.

[whisper]

I would imagine all they playoff teams have above average olines.
I know how many of you guys liked the shiny skill positions we drafted, but a good oline makes all of the other positions better.
I’ve been saying draft oline for years.

Yuppperrrrs. Let's see if they finally get it this draft or not.

[Northern_Blitz]

To the OP: I think the biggest way they differ from us is that they aren't in year 1 of a rebuild.

[flippy]

But the avg of 20 ppg is no where near to providing contention #s. It's putting us in the Carolina and AZ level of ppg. With a really good D, it could sneak us into the playoffs, like Balt., but it's not gonna get us into truly contending category; more like the "one and done" playoff blow out loss like we are used to with Cool Shades leading things. The true contenders are all top 7 ppg teams. Being 26th, or 16th, for that matter, isn't gonna put us anywhere near actually contention. Not even close. But that is Tomlin football, and it ain't gonna cut it.

Im just looking forward and see the team improving.

If you keep looking back on what has happened, you’re gonna drive yourself crazy.

To get in the positive frame of mind, I just watched Rocky 4. If Rocky can change, and the Russians can change, Cool Shades and the Steelers can change.

[whisper]

To the OP: I think the biggest way they differ from us is that they aren't in year 1 of a rebuild.

Well, that's debatable: The Steelers never admit to the season being a rebuild; are they liars then? As far as the youth of the team, they are in the middle of the pack in player age. Shouldn't a rebuild be one of the youngest teams in the NFL? And if you're basing it on a rookie QB, SF also has a rookie QB (drafted last in the entire draft) and yet they are one of the best teams in the NFL, so....is this team really in a rebuild or is that an excuse for Shades to miss the playoffs?

[whisper]

Im just looking forward and see the team improving.

If you keep looking back on what has happened, you’re gonna drive yourself crazy.

To get in the positive frame of mind, I just watched Rocky 4. If Rocky can change, and the Russians can change, Cool Shades and the Steelers can change.

Well, I do appreciate you imagery and humor. But I think there is a better chance of Rocky and the Russians changing before Shades will.

[flippy]

Well, I do appreciate you imagery and humor. But I think there is a better chance of Rocky and the Russians changing before Shades will.

Down the stretch we were giving up 16 points while getting 21.

I think it’s a natural expectation that the O will get better in Kenny’s 2nd season and a healthy Watt makes a huge difference.

This is a playoff team for sure imho.

Good enough to win it all? Not sure but I think we’ll be able to hang with anyone and have a shot.

We need a good offseason but I don’t think we’re as far off as most do.

There are holes for sure but we’ve all seen 1 or 2 guys make all the difference.