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

[hawaiiansteel]

Don't tell that to Oviedo...Oviedo, Do you care to respond to this?

you already have your mind made up, why should Ovi waste his time and explain anything to you?

I mean, Lamar Jackson has already won 1 NFL MVP award and is currently 3rd in the MVP voting for this season, yet you continue to call him a bust no matter how much evidence is presented to you to the contrary.

[Buzz]

It's OK to have optimism, but optimism regarding this offense is pretty difficult at this point, because they've given little indication of meaningful progression

maybe that changes as the season goes on, but after nearly 4 seasons of crap on that side of the ball, I want to see a bit more

[Oviedo]

Don't tell that to Oviedo...Oviedo, Do you care to respond to this?

I'd be happy to discuss this with Clark.

You aren't him

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I am in the Ryan Clark camp right now. Here is what he said Friday after the game: ?They are imposters. They are not a team that can win a championship. This is not a team that can get to a conference championship.?

Sadly, I think he is spot on.

If they are imposters, wouldn't that mean that someone...anyone had expectations that they could go to the conference championship? There was not one person that I recall banging that drum, so I have to disagree with RC. A staement like that could go on a team such as the Niners. They have been hyped up as contenders all off-season. If we now believe that they aren't good enough to compete at that level then they can be called imposters.

[WindyCitySteel]

If they are imposters, wouldn't that mean that someone...anyone had expectations that they could go to the conference championship? There was not one person that I recall banging that drum, so I have to disagree with RC. A staement like that could go on a team such as the Niners. They have been hyped up as contenders all off-season. If we now believe that they aren't good enough to compete at that level then they can be called imposters.

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.

[feltdizz]

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.

will it really be a different story if we win 3 of 4 the same way?

its obvious folks don’t like seeing us win close games. If we have a rushing TD, 1 passing TD and 2 FGs with Kenny throwing for 200 yards and missing a throw or 2 folks act like its not a win or sustainable.

If we beat Cincinnati in a rock fight as you like to say, no one on here is going to change their minds. Folks want to see 35 points before they believe we are contenders. But again, who actually believed we were contenders to start the season? I never thought this was our year but I did believe we would make the playoffs.

Now MIAMI, that is a team some are calling imposters because they still haven’t beat anyone with a winning record.

[WindyCitySteel]

will it really be a different story if we win 3 of 4 the same way?

its obvious folks don’t like seeing us win close games. If we have a rushing TD, 1 passing TD and 2 FGs with Kenny throwing for 200 yards and missing a throw or 2 folks act like its not a win or sustainable.

If we beat Cincinnati in a rock fight as you like to say, no one on here is going to change their minds. Folks want to see 35 points before they believe we are contenders. But again, who actually believed we were contenders to start the season? I never thought this was our year but I did believe we would make the playoffs.

Now MIAMI, that is a team some are calling imposters because they still haven’t beat anyone with a winning record.

I we can win at Cincy and Cleveland, I don't care how it's done. If we beat GB and AZ in low-scoring games and lose both Ohio games, not much will have changed.

[feltdizz]

I we can win at Cincy and Cleveland, I don't care how it's done. If we beat GB and AZ in low-scoring games and lose both Ohio games, not much will have changed.

I’m confident we can beat CLE again.

I think we split with Cincy.

[Starlifter]

I give quite a bit of leeway with afc north games. They are usually close, hard fought and often ugly. But if every win the Steelers have is that way, it’s hard to see them making a deep run in Jan. But as has been said before, it’s about how you’re playing in December not in September. If they have a strong game against the packers, if they put up big numbers against the cardinals and find a way to split cincy and grab another win against Cleveland or maybe Baltimore - then I’d say the team is a legit threat.

[Oviedo]

I we can win at Cincy and Cleveland, I don't care how it's done. If we beat GB and AZ in low-scoring games and lose both Ohio games, not much will have changed.

Totally agree. I just want the win and I don't care how it is done or what it looks like. The standings aren't based on "Fantasy Football perceptions" of what winning is

[feltdizz]

Totally agree. I just want the win and I don't care how it is done or what it looks like. The standings aren't based on "Fantasy Football perceptions" of what winning is

people keep saying they need to see the offense explode to have faith they can do something in January.

for me, as long as we make the playoffs we have a shot to win a game. predicting playoff losses isn’t anything special. everyone eventually loses except for 1 team.

Whether its closes wins or blowouts. It has no bearing on what will happen on game day.

[Oviedo]

I?m confident we can beat CLE again.

I think we split with Cincy.

I agree. We have been strong in AFC North

[WindyCitySteel]

Totally agree. I just want the win and I don't care how it is done or what it looks like. The standings aren't based on "Fantasy Football perceptions" of what winning is

I think it matters when the only way you can beat any team is by the skin of your teeth while getting outgained by 100 yards, because that's not sustainable. It doesn't mean the wins don't count, it means that they probably will stop happening if/when you reach the playoffs, as we've seen lately.

[flippy]

I think the collective fan base is looking back a little too much.

I get the frustration, but I saw 3 game changers that are gonna make a huge difference going forward in 97, 77, and 24.

I think 77 blocking what KP can see in front of him is gonna change everything on the O.

And when Minkah comes back and doesn?t have to play in the box to make half the tackles, this D will evolve as well.

We?re not there yet, but I can see how we?re on a path to peak in the future at a time that matters. No one wins the big one at mid season.

Let?s keep trending up!!!

[Buzz]

I think the collective fan base is looking back a little too much.

I get the frustration, but I saw 3 game changers that are gonna make a huge difference going forward in 97, 77, and 24.

I think 77 blocking what KP can see in front of him is gonna change everything on the O.

And when Minkah comes back and doesn?t have to play in the box to make half the tackles, this D will evolve as well.

We?re not there yet, but I can see how we?re on a path to peak in the future at a time that matters. No one wins the big one at mid season.

Let?s keep trending up!!!

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