What do we do if....

[Northern_Blitz]

As I write this, we're at the 2 minute warning against the Bengals (second time) down 24-3.

Since we pretty much can't score more than 24 points in games, this one is probably a loss. Although stranger things have happened.

Here's my question: What do we do if we lose this game AND next week against the Rats?

That would put us at 5-6-1 with 5 games remaining. We'd potentially be last in the division (3rd at best).

Our division record would be 1 - 3 and our conference record would be 3 - 5. Not good for tie breakers.

Our remaining games after the Rats will be:

1. @ Vikings (5-5)
2. Titans (8-3)
3. @ KC (7-4)
4. Browns (6-4)
5. @ Baltimore (7-3)

3 away games, 2 home games. Some pretty good teams on the schedule.

We wouldn't be technically out of the playoffs in that situation. But we'd be pretty close IMO. Especially with bad division and conference records.

1. Would you start playing for the future in that scenario?
   
2. Is there a scenario where you think we sit Ben (I don't think the Steelers will do that outside of injury)?

[Ernie]

As I write this, we're at the 2 minute warning against the Bengals (second time) down 24-3.

Since we pretty much can't score more than 24 points in games, this one is probably a loss. Although stranger things have happened.

Here's my question: What do we do if we lose this game AND next week against the Rats?

That would put us at 5-6-1 with 5 games remaining. We'd potentially be last in the division (3rd at best).

Our division record would be 1 - 3 and our conference record would be 3 - 5. Not good for tie breakers.

Our remaining games after the Rats will be:

1. @ Vikings (5-5)
2. Titans (8-3)
3. @ KC (7-4)
4. Browns (6-4)
5. @ Baltimore (7-3)

3 away games, 2 home games. Some pretty good teams on the schedule.

We wouldn't be technically out of the playoffs in that situation. But we'd be pretty close IMO. Especially with bad division and conference records.

1. Would you start playing for the future in that scenario?
   
2. Is there a scenario where you think we sit Ben (I don't think the Steelers will do that outside of injury)?

Ben is "Bigger than the organization". No way theyll sit him..

[Ernie]

Ben is done

[Ernie]

With a dominant offensive line and running game.. hed still be "Serviceable"... but with the current personnel... well it's too much for the old man.

[Northern_Blitz]

Ben is "Bigger than the organization". No way theyll sit him..

This is what I think...although maybe at some point he'll have some kind of sham injury if he doesn't want to keep sacrificing his longevity for a lost cause of a season. Or maybe he'll get legitimately injured because our OL sucks.

[Northern_Blitz]

With a dominant offensive line and running game.. hed still be "Serviceable"... but with the current personnel... well it's too much for the old man.

I agree that we're asking too much of him at this stage of his career.

[Ernie]

This is what I think...although maybe at some point he'll have some kind of sham injury if he doesn't want to keep sacrificing his longevity for a lost cause of a season. Or maybe he'll get legitimately injured because our OL sucks.

And as we type this.. he gets sacked again and they let the clock run out to the half

[LPMAN]

how about fire your coach the main problem & coach for tomorrow.

[Iron City Inc.]

Ben stays healthy? Interesting question. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

[snarky]

A big part of the reason we are asking too much of him at this stage of his career is that he is being vastly overpaid. I will never understand how the organization didn't see this coming before his current contract was finalized. Or perhaps they did and they knew the fan base would freak out if they let him walk.

[SteelBucks]

Just finish out the season. There isn’t much “future” on the roster that isn’t already playing.

Sitting Ben does nothing unless people are still holding out hope that Rudolph is the future. And we should know by now that he isn’t.

[Northern_Blitz]

Just finish out the season. There isn’t much “future” on the roster that isn’t already playing.

Sitting Ben does nothing unless people are still holding out hope that Rudolph is the future. And we should know by now that he isn’t.

I guess the advantage of giving Mason a good number of games where he knows he's the starter and we build a game plan around him would be that we might be able to convince ourselves that we don't have to run the experiment of him starting again next season?

[SteelBucks]

I guess the advantage of giving Mason a good number of games where he knows he's the starter and we build a game plan around him would be that we might be able to convince ourselves that we don't have to run the experiment of him starting again next season?

The Rudolph experiment should have ended two seasons ago when he was the starter. He was beaten out by Duck.

[Northern_Blitz]

The Rudolph experiment should have ended two seasons ago when he was the starter. He was beaten out by Duck.

I don't disagree with you. But he's still the backup for sure and presumed starter for next year as things stand right now.

[SteelBucks]

I don't disagree with you. But he's still the backup for sure and presumed starter for next year as things stand right now.

Our starter next year isn’t on the roster.