By Steeler Nation Staff
SteelerNation.com
Aside from diving deep into advanced statistics, the easiest way to base a teams' success in the regular season is by looking at their record.
Not all records are the same, however. For a team expected to make a Super Bowl run, an 8-8 record might be deemed mediocre. For a team that was projected to win 3-to-5 games, an 8-8 record exceeds expectations and could be an indication that they are trending upwards.
Focusing on the Pittsburgh Steelers, they finished last season sitting at .500 with an 8-8 record. The team didn't meet expectations, but there were variables that the Steelers could not control. Injuries to key players like Ben Roethlisberger, Jaylen Samuels, and JuJu Smith-Schuster severely hurt the Steelers' offense.
Pittsburgh's defense held up through 2019. Ranked 5th in points against per game, the Steelers defensive group held their end of the bargain to win football games. Pittsburgh's offense struggled through the season, particularly in the last three games of the season. Ending the year with three straight games scoring 10 points is not a recipe for success.
With the team flipping over the calendar and are now hopefully healthy, it's a fresh start for the Steelers in 2020. For a team that finished 8-8 last season, what are the expectations for next season?
Rival Baltimore Ravens look to be the team to beat in the AFC North. Winning the division may be tough for the Steelers, but that doesn't mean they can't punch their ticket to the postseason. The Wild Card may seem like a more likely scenario for the Steelers, but it's certainly possible.
A record of 8-8 puts the Steelers in the hunt for a playoff position, but won't guarantee a playoff berth.
According to Betway, the Steelers are listed at +350 to win the AFC North as of May 11th. In order to end the season on top of the division, Pittsburgh will need to look at winning anywhere from 11-14 games.
The last time Pittsburgh managed to win the division with less than 11 wins was in 2007.
Pittsburgh's fate will be decided by whether they can defeat teams beneath them or not. Again, it will be tough to catch the Ravens for top spot in the division, so games against teams like the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals will be crucial for the Steelers. Despite what the strength of schedule numbers say, the upcoming season won't be a walk in the park and their season could come down to the final game against the Tennessee Titans.
Finishing with a 9-7 record isn't terrible by any stretch, but it also doesn't guarantee a playoff bid. 2018, 2009 and 2000 were years the Steelers finished one game above .500 and didn't make the playoffs. The last time the Steelers reached the postseason with nine wins on the year came in 1993. The final three weeks of the 2020 season against the Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, and Titans will be crucial for Pittsburgh. With every loss, their percentage of reaching the postseason goes down.
Injuries were prevalent last season which leads us to believe this Steelers' squad will have no issue reaching nine wins. Finishing over .500 is certainly in the cards for Pittsburgh.
Three straight losses for the Steelers ruined their season a year ago. During that time, Pittsburgh was fighting for a playoff bid. Three losses that late in the season solidified the Steelers missing the postseason in 2019. Of course, injuries played a role and they didn't have much of a groove down the line. A fresh start for Pittsburgh is what the organization needs to get their head on straight.
2020 could be a year where the Steelers prove the haters wrong. As Ben Roethlisberger continues to age, critics will mention that his time in pro-football is ticking away. Like his team, Big Ben could prove many doubters wrong and potentially find themselves playing meaningful football in the postseason.
If the Steelers didn't fall at the finish line last season, they could have easily boarded the playoff train. 2020 is a proving ground for Pittsburgh. Big Ben returning from injury to help the Steelers reach the postseason again would be heroic for the beloved QB.
2020 is an opportunity for the Steelers. Can they ace the test that is the regular season and graduate into the playoffs next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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