The Rudolph-on-Christmas story has been quite delightful, reminiscent of other captivating tales from recent Steelers history such as Duck Hodges, Ben’s farewell season, and Kenny Pickett’s heroics. These stories were truly remarkable. However, if this one concludes in a similar unfortunate manner, resulting in a 10-8 record and a seventh straight season without a playoff victory, it begs the question of what has truly been accomplished aside from the star defensive players aging another year.
Despite the festivities and celebrations coming to an end, it is important to provide a realistic analysis of the situation. When looking at the Steelers’ recent achievements, it becomes evident that they haven’t accomplished much. They were victorious against two teams that did not make it to the playoffs, as well as a weakened Baltimore Ravens team. Simply put, their path to the playoffs as the seventh seed was not impressive. It was expected that they would secure this spot, especially after losing to two 2-10 teams in consecutive home games and suffering a significant defeat against the Gardner Minshews-led team.
If the Steelers want to change the ongoing narrative surrounding their lack of expectations, they need to win a playoff game. Only then can we have a fresh discussion instead of rehashing the same topic repeatedly. Currently, the team is consistently underestimated, and when they meet or slightly surpass these modest expectations, their coach is praised as a genius. This has allowed the franchise to maintain a remarkable streak of not having a losing season for 20 years, despite it being ironically kickstarted by a 6-10 season that led to the arrival of Ben Roethlisberger.
When I say low expectations, I am referring to the Steelers consistently being projected to win around 8.5 games by Vegas at the start of each season (and it will likely be the same next season). I am also talking about how the Steelers were seen as huge underdogs, being given a 9.5-point disadvantage when playing against Buffalo recently, just like in their previous playoff game where they were 12.5-point underdogs against Kansas City. This game resulted in a 42-21 loss, making them the first team ever to allow 40 or more points in three consecutive playoff games in professional football history.
Simply making it into the game, a feat that the Steelers accomplish approximately 50% of the time, is not sufficient. It falls considerably short. It is evident that in this place where maintaining a high level of performance is the norm, there is no need to emphasize this point. That is, of course, unless the benchmark has been reduced.
The Steelers’ three-game winning streak is worth acknowledging, especially considering their defensive injuries. However, it is not as unlikely as some suggest. It should be noted that Kenny Pickett had already defeated the Cincinnati Brownings, an accomplishment the Steelers repeated. The Seahawks have had the least effective run defense in the NFL for the past 11 weeks. Furthermore, the team the Ravens played against on Sunday would have a poor record of 4-13 over a full season.
Another team besides the Steelers is also facing significant injury concerns.
Take a look at the Cleveland Browns. They are currently on their fourth quarterback, who goes by the name of Joe Flacco. Additionally, they experienced the loss of key players such as offensive tackle Jack Conklin and running back Nick Chubb early in the season. Furthermore, they had to cope with the long-term injuries of safety Grant Delpit and kicker Dustin Hopkins, among others.
Sign up now for just $1 and gain access to our content. Login to skip to the main articles. Join McClatchy Media Network to stay informed on news, sports, business, politics, opinions, food and drink, climate change, sports betting, personal finance, public notices, obituaries, and shopping. In this article by Joe Starkey from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he discusses the need for the Pittsburgh Steelers, specifically quarterback Mason Rudolph, to prove themselves in the upcoming playoffs. Starkey emphasizes that their recent victories against weaker opponents do not hold much significance and that a playoff win is necessary to truly establish their success. He also points out that the Steelers often face low expectations and are seen as underdogs, and their annual meeting of those expectations is not enough to generate excitement. Starkey acknowledges the Steelers’ recent accomplishments given their injury-plagued season but asserts that other teams have also faced significant challenges. He mentions the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins as examples of teams dealing with multiple injuries. Overall, Starkey emphasizes the importance of the Steelers winning a playoff game to change the narrative surrounding their season.
Indeed, other teams are also bringing in players who were previously not actively playing. It is commendable that Mason Rudolph seized his chance and performed well, benefiting both himself and the team. This development has been incredibly captivating. He revitalized an underperforming offense and has proven to be the team’s top quarterback. However, it is important to consider the context without bias. Rudolph faced weak opponents in the Bengals and Seahawks, who ranked 30th and 31st in defense, respectively. Additionally, his performance in the Baltimore game had mixed results.
Rudolph threw an excellent pass to Johnson, who seamlessly caught it and sprinted forward for a 71-yard touchdown. However, Rudolph also had several worrisome moments, including four potential turnovers (three fumbles and one almost interception) that caused teams to be cautious of him last year.
Remaining composed and brave in the pocket is a commendable feat, but Rudolph occasionally leaned towards becoming static and oblivious to his surroundings during the game in Baltimore. Although he achieved the impressive milestone of completing 90% of his passes (18 out of 20), it’s worth noting that a significant number of those completions were made behind or in close proximity to the line of scrimmage.
Let’s witness how Rudolph performs against a highly ranked defensive team in an extremely hostile environment. This will be the ultimate test to determine his capabilities. Although the Bills are not invincible, they barely made it into the playoffs and have a tendency to surrender possession. Moreover, their offensive line has its weaknesses, and they have narrowly won several games towards the end. Additionally, they have some injured players. Rudolph has the opportunity to prove doubters wrong on Saturday, just as the Steelers can. This intriguing narrative has the potential to become something much greater.
Leave a Reply