What are realistic expectations for the Steelers 2019 season?
By Eric Hassel
With training camp upon us, that means the 2019 season will follow shortly thereafter. What are realistic expectations for the Steelers in the 2019 season? What can and should fans expect to transpire this season?
I think the aforementioned questions are legitimate questions all Steelers fans have asked or will ask and are questions to which Steelers fans deserve answers. Those answers; however, may not be the answers Steelers fans want or need to hear; however, those answers will be draped in reality rather than fantasy. Here is how I see reality playing out for the Steelers in the 2019 season:
Let’s start with the schedule. I am not going to prognosticate here as I believe the record I envision would just be an extension of my desire for the Steelers to bounce back from a sub-par season in 2018. So what can Steelers fans expect in terms of an overall record? Honestly, I have no idea.
If you looked at the schedule when it came out as my son and I have done for the last decade or so, there are very winnable games as there are games that the team probably won’t win. As an aside, my son and I have predicted the Steelers record for the past decade or so and have come within a couple of wins or losses each year. If you adhere to the strength of schedule formula, the Steelers are tied for the 19th easiest schedule for the 2019 season, according to CBSSPORTS.
So what does that mean? Well, according to the schedule, there are 18 teams that have a harder road ahead of them than the Steelers have, at least on paper. None of those teams; however, reside in the AFC North.
In fact, we have the toughest schedule in our division. Since it’s no secret that the easiest path to the playoffs is to win the division, the Steelers MUST take care of business this season and win the division, which, I believe, is not only the reality of the situation but also the expectation.
I am of the opinion that Steelers fans have a reasonable expectation that we will be competitive enough to win the division every year. We all know that doesn’t always work out the way we would like it to work out; that is where reality sets in.
The rest of the schedule, on paper, looks manageable. Obviously, the Steelers get the Patriots right out of the chute, which, quite frankly, will be a tone-setter for the season. If we show up for that game and win, our confidence will be sky high; if we lose and lose an ugly game, our confidence will be shot, but, hopefully, not for long. You have to possess a short memory in the NFL.
Although we, as fans, know that winning the division is paramount to our success, the reality is we have repeatedly lost games that we should have won. Last season, that trend proved costly as the Steelers missed the playoffs.
To say that can not happen this season would be an understatement, but will it happen? Will the Steelers lose a game or two that we should win? Yes, because that is reality based on our track record. Will losing a game or two that we should have won cost of a playoff spot? It better not; the expectation of Steelers fans is that Coach Tomlin will not allow that to happen again. Is this a reasonable expectation? We shall find out.
Let’s take a look at what we can expect and/or what reality may be on the offensive side of the ball.