AFC North Prognostication

[FordFairLane]

I agree. Im wondering about tomorrow. Do they even TRY to have plays rolling to the right away from miles garret... Or do we just see Ben getting Whiplash all game?

Unfortunately, Bens legs are shot. Years of being “Big Ben” have taken their toll. I’m hoping beyond hope the team can muster one good complete game. The line plays out of their minds. I don’t care if they have to shoot a Mike Webster special before the game and get a suspension next week. Just play out of their minds. Ben gets time, Najee gets holes, and we monkey stomp the stains by 3 tds.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Unfortunately, Bens legs are shot. Years of being “Big Ben” have taken their toll. I’m hoping beyond hope the team can muster one good complete game. The line plays out of their minds. I don’t care if they have to shoot a Mike Webster special before the game and get a suspension next week. Just play out of their minds. Ben gets time, Najee gets holes, and we monkey stomp the stains by 3 tds.

I predicted the Steelers win 18-17 on six 50-yard Boz FG's.

 

[FordFairLane]

I predicted the Steelers win 18-17 on six 50-yard Boz FG's.

I’d take it.

 

[deljzc]

It makes sense that now is Cincinnati's window for sure. Burrow will be under his rookie contract for the next 3 years. They will be able to manage their salary cap very easily and still keep whatever talent they want to get/keep around him.

2022 will still be a chance for Ravens and Browns, but the anchor of their QB contracts will be difficult to manage over a longer time frame.

The Steelers are in a tough position. Obviously, if they can acquire a big name QB in the short term, they can be competitive in the division. If Russell Wilson comes here, we are going to be competitive in the short term (although, I would suspect it is similar to how we have been). Giving up the draft assets, the salary cap assets and pushing off tough decisions on aging veterans might mean if we acquire a veteran QB we are REALLY hurting ourselves in 2-3 seasons but that is a short term vs. long term decision by management.

It is easy to stay "mediocre" in the NFL in my opinion. If you draft well and have a franchise players at least will re-sign with, you should maintain some relevancy. Then it comes down to catching lightning in a bottle with a QB or offensive system that starts to "click" or a defense that just starts to all come together at the right time.

It's part of what makes the NFL tick.

 

[JMM]

I predicted the Steelers win 18-17 on six 50-yard Boz FG's.

Going to be pretty cold tonight. Better get closer to the goal line. It will be like kicking a bucket of rocks.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

Going to be pretty cold tonight. Better get closer to the goal line. It will be like kicking a bucket of rocks.

You just have to make sure to keep your balls warm.

 

[slashsteel]

You just have to make sure to keep your balls warm.

Tell me you are not converting. I can not take one more transformer. It is enough they fairy dust a good portion of television and the movies now.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

Tell me you are not converting. I can not take one more transformer. It is enough they fairy dust a good portion of television and the movies now.

I didn't offer to keep his balls warm personally. That is Coolies job if anyone's.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

Tell me you are not converting. I can not take one more transformer. It is enough they fairy dust a good portion of television and the movies now.

and no one wants to see this in a dress. No one.

 

[FordFairLane]

It makes sense that now is Cincinnati's window for sure. Burrow will be under his rookie contract for the next 3 years. They will be able to manage their salary cap very easily and still keep whatever talent they want to get/keep around him.

2022 will still be a chance for Ravens and Browns, but the anchor of their QB contracts will be difficult to manage over a longer time frame.

The Steelers are in a tough position. Obviously, if they can acquire a big name QB in the short term, they can be competitive in the division. If Russell Wilson comes here, we are going to be competitive in the short term (although, I would suspect it is similar to how we have been). Giving up the draft assets, the salary cap assets and pushing off tough decisions on aging veterans might mean if we acquire a veteran QB we are REALLY hurting ourselves in 2-3 seasons but that is a short term vs. long term decision by management.

It is easy to stay "mediocre" in the NFL in my opinion. If you draft well and have a franchise players at least will re-sign with, you should maintain some relevancy. Then it comes down to catching lightning in a bottle with a QB or offensive system that starts to "click" or a defense that just starts to all come together at the right time.

It's part of what makes the NFL tick.

The one only possible way we compete and compete soon and for a long time is if Rudolph becomes the heir apparent. If he isn’t we probably don’t compete for 3+ years.

Lets look at some scenarios.

1) Rudolph is lights out and we have cap room to sign him and our young guys and build a championship caliber team through the draft.

2) Draft a player and kind out in 3 years if we have something.

3) Sign a veteran and probably find out why they were a free agent.

4) Rudolph sucks and we draft a QB top 10 in 2023 and lose 1 year with Rudolph but probably gain a way better prospect.

 

[steelcan58]

I'd take Hairball over Tomlin any day. He seems to have the willingness to make changes when things aren't working. He's fired coaches mid season when they aren't working. Same with QBs - he replaced Flacco with Jackson when he wasn't working out. I suspect Jackson will be out soon too. Tomlin never makes any adjustments.

If anything I think Hairballs teams usually do better than expected. Tomlin's teams - not so much.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I'd take Hairball over Tomlin any day. He seems to have the willingness to make changes when things aren't working. He's fired coaches mid season when they aren't working. Same with QBs - he replaced Flacco with Jackson when he wasn't working out. I suspect Jackson will be out soon too. Tomlin never makes any adjustments.

If anything I think Hairballs teams usually do better than expected. Tomlin's teams - not so much.

Harbaugh is a good coach, but in no way would I take him over Tomlin. Since the Ravens last won the Super Bowl, Tomlin has more 10-win seasons, more playoff appearances, and more playoff wins.

 

[Omar10213245]

It can still happen(yes I am on drugs). I would love for this and to happen knock them out in the first round.
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wipe the drool off your slack jaw and wake up from your daydream, squeakerton. it ain't 2015 anymore. i want no part of playing cincinnati again this season. this team needs a full offseason of regrouping before going against them again so soon, it would be yet another bloodbath.

 

[Omar10213245]

Browns-
Baker has one more year on his contract and I feel the Browns will at the very least go 2nd/3rd round to protect themselves. Desmond Ridder would be a good candidate for them. But I don’t see them being more than a 8-9 to 10-7 team any time soon.

Bengals-
There’s a chance here for a new king of the division. But that’s been said before. Burrows looks good but insert same sentiment for Dalton and Palmer.

Ravens-
Jackson is a knee injury away from being RG3. I hope they lock him up for ridiculous money this off-season but I think they are smart enough to let him play out his 5th year option then tag him before they long term him. If they do lock him up they’ll be screwed for a good few years. I also feel the league is adapting to him. Keep him in the pocket and make him throw. He’s a one read and run QB. Have your ends contain. DT’s push pressure up the middle and keep a fast LB to shadow him. Trick is that LB has to prevent him from breaking a long one. But he’s better on the edge than the middle so if you contain you are better off. Then if you force him to throw at that point you have won more times than not.

Steelers-
Their impending success rides on Rudolph. He’s had his time to sit back, learn, have the game slow down, and now it’s his shot. If he can come in and do more good than bad we have a shot. If in a year or two he’s continued to grow and he’s a top 12 QB we might be able to put a good enough team to make a few super bowl runs. If he’s a top 5 we should have another super bowl or two. If he sucks then I feel 2024 is Tomlin’s last year.

lmao you are unbelievable. Mason Rudolph, a "top 12" (that's an oddball number to use, but okay) quarterback in a year or two?? how much pot do you smoke a day?? rudolph won't ever be a "top 15" quarterback in this league, no matter how many seasons you give him!

 

[MTC]

wipe the drool off your slack jaw and wake up from your daydream, squeakerton. it ain't 2015 anymore. i want no part of playing cincinnati again this season. this team needs a full offseason of regrouping before going against them again so soon, it would be yet another bloodbath.

Agreed. This team needs an offseason and needs to rebuild. I blame disney movies for people believing in magical runs