I just don't know......

[flippy]

Speaking of difference-makers, how about the Benton kid (#95) on the DL?

I love Benton and think 97 being out helped him get some experience which can pay off sooner.

He seems so powerful for a rook. I can?t wait until he trains full time as an NFL player to see if there?s even some bigger transformation.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Right, everyone knows they're not a legit contender, which is why the are currently imposters in the playoff picture race. If they win 3 of the next 4, completely different story.

I don't know, maybe semantics, but for a team to be an imposter I think that they would be acting as contenders, but are imposters because they aren't. The same way I wouldn't call Carolina imposters.

[Captain Lemming]

I don't know, maybe semantics, but for a team to be an imposter I think that they would be acting as contenders, but are imposters because they aren't. The same way I wouldn't call Carolina imposters.

THIS was my earlier point. I think WE create this narrative because we ALWAYS think we have a SB team. Our record makes it worse.

Weird truth? If things we according to expectations, nobody calls us pretenders.

Pulling off narrow wins that we were supposed to lose gives us the record of a potential contender, and we end up criticizing the team for OVERACHIEVING.

[feltdizz]

THIS was my earlier point. I think WE create this narrative because we ALWAYS think we have a SB team. Our record makes it worse.

Weird truth? If things we according to expectations, nobody calls us pretenders.

Pulling off narrow wins that we were supposed to lose gives us the record of a potential contender, and we end up criticizing the team for OVERACHIEVING.

A lot of fans and talking heads put everything on 3 positive drives in the preseason.

I wanted to see us spank the 49ers or at least hang tough with the contenders. When it didn’t happen the season was lost.

Texans surely put them over the edge. I was mad too..

but at some point fans and talking heads have to accept who we are.

we are:
A young offense. Sorry, I know folks don’t like this fact but we are young.

Our defense is bend, don’t break. Extremely opportunistic and makes splash plays but when they don’t.. they give up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points.

We got blown out in 2 games. Those games are over. Those yards and points don’t matter when we play our next game. Just like blowing a team out doesn’t guarantee victory next week or in the playoffs

we are 5-3. The record doesn’t lie.

[WindyCitySteel]

I don't know, maybe semantics, but for a team to be an imposter I think that they would be acting as contenders, but are imposters because they aren't. The same way I wouldn't call Carolina imposters.

By the sheer fact of being a top 7 team record-wise in the AFC they are in the playoff discussion, which leads to discussion of who is a legit contender and who is not.

Some people here want it both ways -- they call out the record as the only thing that matters, then when deeper contextual and comparative analysis is done they put the brakes on and say "nobody said we belong with those teams".

[feltdizz]

By the sheer fact of being a top 7 team record-wise in the AFC they are in the playoff discussion, which leads to discussion of who is a legit contender and who is not.

Some people here want it both ways -- they call out the record as the only thing that matters, then when deeper contextual and comparative analysis is done they put the brakes on and say "nobody said we belong with those teams".

what’s the comparative analysis?

“no one else has a winning record while being outgained?”

if that is is, maybe it means we aren’t like all those other teams?

[Captain Lemming]

By the sheer fact of being a top 7 team record-wise in the AFC they are in the playoff discussion, which leads to discussion of who is a legit contender and who is not.

Some people here want it both ways -- they call out the record as the only thing that matters, then when deeper contextual and comparative analysis is done they put the brakes on and say "nobody said we belong with those teams".

You make my point. Got no issue discussing whether they are legit contenders. My answer has been NO from prior to the season.

But they are not a “pretender” either. As the word implies expectations that no rational person should have for this team at this stage of development.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

By the sheer fact of being a top 7 team record-wise in the AFC they are in the playoff discussion, which leads to discussion of who is a legit contender and who is not.

Some people here want it both ways -- they call out the record as the only thing that matters, then when deeper contextual and comparative analysis is done they put the brakes on and say "nobody said we belong with those teams".

I came into the season saying that I expect the team to be a playoff contender, as in their battle will be to see if they can make the playoffs. Their record shows they are succeeding right now, but their play is still lacking. I'm not happy with where they are, but I also don't think they are below expectations.

[Captain Lemming]

I came into the season saying that I expect the team to be a playoff contender, as in their battle will be to see if they can make the playoffs. Their record shows they are succeeding right now, but their play is still lacking. I'm not happy with where they are, but I also don't think they are below expectations.

The topic is SB contenders. There is no question they are a contender to make the playoffs.