Divisional Playoffs thread

[feltdizz]

Jesus this goes on and on. Wake me up when the Steelers can beat the better AFC teams come playoff time, whether it be 17-14 or 30-27.

Until then this is all fictional story telling time because the facts remain they haven't won a playoff game since 2016 vs Alex Smith and the Chiefs.

Please show me otherwise, thank you.

well, this is the problem. You keep saying we can’t because we haven’t recently.

But saying we can’t win in the future is just as fictionary (not a real word) as saying we could win.

We have no idea what the future holds yet you insist that we CANT which is no more true than the alternative.

Usually when a team has a rookie and they win more games than they lose to end the season people feel optimistic that rookie will continue to improve. Yet, some of you insist it can’t or won’t happen because of Canada and Tomlin.

I think its a terrible idea to take Ben’s last year in the NFL or Picketts first as the end all, be all of this offense.

[flippy]

well, this is the problem. You keep saying we can’t because we haven’t recently.

But saying we can’t win in the future is just as fictionary (not a real word) as saying we could win.

We have no idea what the future holds yet you insist that we CANT which is no more true than the alternative.

Usually when a team has a rookie and they win more games than they lose to end the season people feel optimistic that rookie will continue to improve. Yet, some of you insist it can’t or won’t happen because of Canada and Tomlin.

I think it’s a terrible idea to take Ben’s last year in the NFL or Picketts first as the end all, be all of this offense.

In fairness, do we know anything about Canada at this point?

He had to design an offense for Ben to get rid of the ball in 2 seconds with no OLine and now he’s gotta streamline the O for a rookie while all the pieces around him are new and developing too?

He’s been in a no win scenario.

For all we know he’s the next great offensive mind that’s been hamstrung to date???

I doubt it. Just saying it’s possible given that we really know very little at this point.

[Ghost]

2016 – 2020 - the Bengals never one more than 7 wins a season (2 Ws in 2019). Now the last 2 years they’ve won the Division, gone to the SB and are still in the playoffs now.

It’s going to take some work, good drafting, a few key FA’s and the Steelers could have this type of turnaround. No one knows for sure what the future holds for them but hopefully it involves a lot of winning.

[crushedspirit]

well, this is the problem. You keep saying we can’t because we haven’t recently.

But saying we can’t win in the future is just as fictionary (not a real word) as saying we could win.

We have no idea what the future holds yet you insist that we CANT which is no more true than the alternative.

Usually when a team has a rookie and they win more games than they lose to end the season people feel optimistic that rookie will continue to improve. Yet, some of you insist it can’t or won’t happen because of Canada and Tomlin.

I think its a terrible idea to take Ben’s last year in the NFL or Picketts first as the end all, be all of this offense.

I said we can't compete now, but never said it's impossible in the future so stop trying to create something that doesn't exist. I don't have faith in the current staff's vision of how to win, but would LOVE to be proven wrong.

[feltdizz]

In fairness, do we know anything about Canada at this point?

He had to design an offense for Ben to get rid of the ball in 2 seconds with no OLine and now he’s gotta streamline the O for a rookie while all the pieces around him are new and developing too?

He’s been in a no win scenario.

For all we know he’s the next great offensive mind that’s been hamstrung to date???

I doubt it. Just saying it’s possible given that we really know very little at this point.

yeah.. we had an old man who couldn’t move in the pocket with a rebuilt elbow in 2021.

FO did him no favors with Green at center too.

This next year is when I think we will be able to truly call Canada out for his offense. No excuses.

[T.Ferguson]

This will be the best defense Hurts has faced.. but I have a hard time thinking he will be the reason the 49ers have a chance to win. Dude is playing some great football right now.

Hurts passing game is a big question mark, he was awful in the playoffs last year against the Bucs and the Niners have one of the best run defenses in the league. If Hurts is forced to throw it or asked to throw the ball in crunch time idk about that. I think it'll be a slugfest, Eagles could win obviously but QBs are a question mark for both sides really.

[crushedspirit]

Hurts passing game is a big question mark, he was awful in the playoffs last year against the Bucs and the Niners have one of the best run defenses in the league. If Hurts is forced to throw it or asked to throw the ball in crunch time idk about that. I think it'll be a slugfest, Eagles could win obviously but QBs are a question mark for both sides really.

If SF run game can get to the second level they will give PHI issues, since that's their major weakness on D. Hurts will have to be at his best because I don't think that run game will flourish. Warner, Greenlaw and Al-Shaair are probably the best LB trio in football and just plain tough to run on.

[whisper]

2016 – 2020 - the Bengals never one more than 7 wins a season (2 Ws in 2019). Now the last 2 years they’ve won the Division, gone to the SB and are still in the playoffs now.

It’s going to take some work, good drafting, a few key FA’s and the Steelers could have this type of turnaround. No one knows for sure what the future holds for them but hopefully it involves a lot of winning.

We've seen what Shades brings: .500 ball. Under his "leadership" and direction, it's what we will always be. He doesn't have Cowher's wisdom and players to rely on anymore. Shades will produce what he has in the last 6 years: mediocrity. Zero playoff wins.

[Steel Maniac]

Hurts passing game is a big question mark, he was awful in the playoffs last year against the Bucs and the Niners have one of the best run defenses in the league. If Hurts is forced to throw it or asked to throw the ball in crunch time idk about that. I think it'll be a slugfest, Eagles could win obviously but QBs are a question mark for both sides really.

Your really questioning Hurts passing game? Interesting. Again, it's not like Cee Dee Lamb didn't work over the 49ers secondary. Eagles got a better O-line than Dallas. You don't think their going to be able to run on the 49ers? Hmmm. I find that interesting too.

[NJ-STEELER]

Jesus this goes on and on. Wake me up when the Steelers can beat the better AFC teams come playoff time, whether it be 17-14 or 30-27.

Until then this is all fictional story telling time because the facts remain they haven't won a playoff game since 2016 vs Alex Smith and the Chiefs.

Please show me otherwise, thank you.

it’s another attempt at the ‘tomlin has a great plan for this team’ crowd.

[crushedspirit]

Your really questioning Hurts passing game? Interesting. Again, it's not like Cee Dee Lamb didn't work over the 49ers secondary. Eagles got a better O-line than Dallas. You don't think their going to be able to run on the 49ers? Hmmm. I find that interesting too.

I think it will come down to Hurts performing at a high level because SF has some holes in that secondary, namely Lenoir. I don't think SF is easy at all to run on, but it's not impossible. They haven't allowed any RB over 69 yards all season long, including playoffs.

[NorthCoast]

I don’t see the 49ers getting past the Eagles. For some reason I think people wrote them off because they had a quiet December but they look healthy and primed for a W.

Not saying the 49ers can’t get them because they play great defense but if Dak was decent they win that game yesterday. Dak was shook.

Don't forget Pollard going down. That was a huge hit to the run offense. I would be the game unfolds differently if he was in for the full game.

[Steel Maniac]

Don't forget Pollard going down. That was a huge hit to the run offense. I would be the game unfolds differently if he was in for the full game.

I think the Pollard injury was huge as well. It basically put the entire offense on Dak's shoulders against a top 2 defense in football.

[whisper]

Don't forget Pollard going down. That was a huge hit to the run offense. I would be the game unfolds differently if he was in for the full game.

Zeke is NOT a difference maker; he hasn't been for 4 years. Zeke as a rookie and 2nd year back was a terror, the current-day Zeke is just a plodder. Dallas was hurt with Pollard going down. He's the only "difference maker" in the backfield.

[T.Ferguson]

Your really questioning Hurts passing game? Interesting. Again, it's not like Cee Dee Lamb didn't work over the 49ers secondary. Eagles got a better O-line than Dallas. You don't think their going to be able to run on the 49ers? Hmmm. I find that interesting too.

I actually like Hurts but yeah I have my doubts, just stating the obvious but Eagles will need to run the ball at least somewhat successfully to win it most likely. His game last year in the playoffs was brutal to watch and I was pulling for the Eagles, he kept missing open guys, throwing to players way too late, etc. it was 31-0 going into the 4th quarter of that game.