If the Steelers were in the AFC East and New England was in the AFC North
Indeed. Just imagine, the Jets, Bills, and Dolphins have been very bad for 2 decades as a group. While everyone talks about how great Brady and Belichick are they are in the perfect spot. Just go 5-1or 4-2 vs. these perennial losers and you can split the rest of your other ten games and BOOM, you're 10-6 to 9-7 at the worst. Usually, the Patriots go 6-4 in their other ten game, so that makes them 11-5 on an average year, 10-6 on a bad year.
The end results are New England has never had a problem winning its division, and often gets a bye and at least one home game in the playoffs.
The AFC East is the easiest division in football to pick a winner because you have two big-time losers and one very average team.
If the Steelers were in the AFC East, we have at least 2 more playoff wins per decade and maybe one more super bowl appearance. And if New England was in the AFC North, they would have had to at least beat some good Ravens and Bengal teams.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
Add to your list that the Ravens have pretty much owned tom brady and the patriots so at the very least they would have had some competition.
Unfortunately that is the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.
I attribute their success more to the fact that they are the favorites of Go To Hell and therefore never get a bad call go against them. Even when their players do some crazy bs like what grank did a few years back they get very light punishment. The officials have a very hard time making a call against them and they always get a favorable call (ie Jessie James catch). Doesn't hurt that their owner and the guy who runs the league are buddy buddy either. Nope hard to lose when you have all that going for ya.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
Maybe not as good as some may think.
Since 2010, the steelers are 3-0 vs Bills, 1-2 vs Dolphins and 3-2 against the Jets in the regular season.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
Steelers also share a division with the Browns and Bengals.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
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Originally Posted by
ALLD
Steelers also share a division with the Browns and Bengals.
Good point
Since 2014 for the steelers against the AFC North: 17-6-1...For the Pats against the AFC east since 2014: 17-7
The division is not an excuse for the Steelers,at least for the last couple years.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
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Originally Posted by
polamalubeast
Maybe not as good as some may think.
Since 2010, the steelers are 3-0 vs Bills, 1-2 vs Dolphins and 3-2 against the Jets in the regular season.
That is 7-4. Pretty good. What were the Steelers vs these teams from 2004 ( Ben's rookie season ) to 2009?
Key point the AFC east almost never had another 10-6 team or better to worry about for 20 years. The Steelers have had their share, and it cost them a division or seeding in the playoffs. Sometimes no playoffs.
Would the Steelers make the playoffs in 2006, 2009, 2012 or 2013 if they exchanged places with New England? I think at least once as none of the AFC East terms outside of New England was very good in these years.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
And just to say, of course our division is stronger than the AFC east ... Of course I not say the opposite
But our success like the 2008 and 2010, the Ravens were much better in 2008 and 2010 than any team in our division for at least 5 years...So the great team finds a way to win, even if the competition is strong like the steelers in 2008 and 2010 when they face a great ravens 3 times in his 2 years
The steelers did a lot less in the last couple years, even the steelers did not have a great Ravens team as competition, so I refuse to say that our division is a problem when it was not the case in two of the years that the steelers were in the super bowl.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
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Originally Posted by
Six Rings
That is 7-4. Pretty good. What were the Steelers vs these teams from 2004 ( Ben's rookie season ) to 2009?
Key point the AFC east almost never had another 10-6 team or better to worry about for 20 years. The Steelers have had their share, and it cost them a division or seeding in the playoffs. Sometimes no playoffs.
Would the Steelers make the playoffs in 2006, 2009, 2012 or 2013 if they exchanged places with New England? I think at least once as none of the AFC East terms outside of New England was very good in these years.
I do not know, but we've never had 10 wins in the years that the steelers missed the playoffs and in the last 5 times the steelers missed the playoffs, 4 times the steelers missed the playoffs by one game, and in his 4 times the steelers lost against an awful raiders team(The other time we missed the playoffs were by 2 games in 2012, but the steelers also lost against a bad raiders).
So no excuse, a great team finds a way no matter what .... Even in 2005, the competition was ridiculous in the AFC ... The steelers finished at 11-5, but it was only good for the final seed in the playoffs, but they found a way to win the super bowl.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
The “AFC East” excuse is pretty weak in my eyes. If the Steelers were in the AFC East, they would’ve still underachieved. The Steelers have proven unable to beat very sad Raiders teams, what makes you think they would fare better in a division full of bad teams?
Infamously in 2014, after putting up 12 TD passes in two weeks, the Steelers lost to the one-win New York Jets.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
They'd find a way to lose at least 2x a year in that division Tomlin style
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
Give the east the browns, who might just have a chance to compete over there, and bring over the cheats let the fun begin.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
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Originally Posted by
Edman
The “AFC East” excuse is pretty weak in my eyes. If the Steelers were in the AFC East, they would’ve still underachieved. The Steelers have proven unable to beat very sad Raiders teams, what makes you think they would fare better in a division full of bad teams?
Infamously in 2014, after putting up 12 TD passes in two weeks, the Steelers lost to the one-win New York Jets.
Disagree, you can print your playoff tickets in advance if you have decent talent as this division seldom does.
The Steelers are 14-8 vs the Bills, 17-5 vs the Jets All time.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
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Originally Posted by
Six Rings
Disagree, you can print your playoff tickets in advance if you have decent talent as this division seldom does.
The Steelers are 14-8 vs the Bills, 17-5 vs the Jets All time.
The steelers are only 3-3 against the Jets under Tomlin.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
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Originally Posted by
polamalubeast
The steelers are only 3-3 against the Jets under Tomlin.
Key words under Tomlin. Otherwise they are 14-2 vs the Jets.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
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Originally Posted by
Six Rings
Key words under Tomlin. Otherwise they are 14-2 vs the Jets.
Yes and but our HC is still Tomlin and under him we have not dominated the Dolphins or the Jets
As I said early, the strength of the division is not an excuse ... The Steelers have a better record against AFC North since 2014 than the pats have against AFC East.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
The Steelers have gotten their ass kicked rather infamously by the Dolphins in 2013 and 2016. In 2016, the then 4-1 Steelers went on the road against a 1-4 Dolphin Team (Sound Familiar) and lost 30-15.
Nope, being in the AFC East wouldn't solve anything for the Steelers. I'd argue that things would be worse. Especially with Mike Tomlin at the helm.
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
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Originally Posted by
Edman
The Steelers have gotten their ass kicked rather infamously by the Dolphins in 2013 and 2016. In 2016, the then 4-1 Steelers went on the road against a 1-4 Dolphin Team (Sound Familiar) and lost 30-15.
Nope, being in the AFC East wouldn't solve anything for the Steelers. I'd argue that things would be worse. Especially with Mike Tomlin at the helm.
In the 1-4 start for the Dolphins, their win was against the Browns under Hue Jackson and it was because of a miss game winning FG by their kicker that prevented the Dolphins from being at 0-5
Yes I know Miami made the playoffs in 2016, but it was still a bad team, since they won several close games against very bad team and not be close against the few good teams that faced.
Their win by 15 points against the steelers was their third biggest margin of victory for Miami under Adam Gase
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
I think it's more of the cheating...
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
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Originally Posted by
polamalubeast
The Steelers have a better record against AFC North since 2014 than the pats have against AFC East.
That's an interesting stat - wouldn't have figured that. Good research. :drink:
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Edman
The “AFC East” excuse is pretty weak in my eyes. If the Steelers were in the AFC East, they would’ve still underachieved. The Steelers have proven unable to beat very sad Raiders teams, what makes you think they would fare better in a division full of bad teams?
Infamously in 2014, after putting up 12 TD passes in two weeks, the Steelers lost to the one-win New York Jets.
:iagree:
Re: If the Steelers were in the AFC East
I think the Steelers would beat the Bills, Jets and Dolphins if they was in their division. They would be use to playing them twice a year and mostly only lose to bum teams they don't face that much. As for The Pats they have every advantage from their division, Refs and Dumb coaches in the SB gifting them two SB'S. It is what it is and as in in life who said it was fair ?
