Reasons Steelers have lost last 5 wks from Steeler fans.

1. Palamalu not playing
2. Don't run the ball enough
3. Poor play calling
4. Need better defensive backs
5. Big Ben not looking sharp
6. Defense can't hold the lead
7. Poor tackling
8. Bad special teams play
9. Teams are figuring Dick LaBeau's Defense out
10. Offensive blocking breakdowns
11. Injuries.
12. Steeler swagger is missing and/or gone
13. No intimidation from defense
14. Big Ben throwing too much
15. Problems in locker room

^^^I don't make this stuff up. This is what TRUE Steeler fans tell me.

Maybe Steelers aren't as good as people think this year.

Same "excuse" as every other loss.........they didnt play well enough to win.

PLain and simple.

Every team can give reasons after every loss as to why they got beat.

Each Bengals loss they can give a reason why they lost....same with every browns loss.
You can cut and paste the names fro those two teams, and every team, into what you posted and that is what fans are saying about their team.

So....what is exactly your point?

Why does everyone seem to forgot that All-Pro defensive end, Aaron Smith has been out most of the year??
As Troy Polamalu said:

"A guy like that, I truly believe, is irreplaceable," Polamalu said. "There's a lot of other big role positions that get a lot of prestige, but who can always be replaced -- myself included -- but it's always tough when it has to do with our line. I truly believe our defensive line controls the outcome of the game. It's big. It hurts us."

All teams have reasons for losing. Maybe, the Packers will prove to be the better team on Sunday. That is a reason for a Steeler loss.As for your list, I think 1,4, and 11 have played a significant role in the Steeler's 5 game losing streak.

I think it's because they won last year you try to find a reason for the decline. Maybe there is something they can fix and get back quickly or maybe the problems are so many that it could take awhile. Right now it seems like the latter.

Although I remember in 2003 when they went 6-10, they didn't enter the next season with a lot of expectations. If you were on a message board like this at that time people would've said they're just not that good anymore. But then in 2004 they went 15-1 and in 2005 they made the playoffs and won the Super Bowl.

The same thing happened in 2006 after the 8-8 season and Cowher left. The next season you win a few more games, the locker room is more united, and there is more depth just because the guys are having fun and playing their best.

The Steelers do have personnel issues but are they really enough to prevent them from contending for the division, playoffs and so forth, if the intangibles are different like attitude, preparation, focus, drive, etc.

I'm not sure too many of those "excuses" are legitimately excuses. When I think "excuse", I think of people saying things like, "Well, if the refs didn't give them that call!" or "Their crowd was too loud and it was disrupting our offense!".

When you're saying something like "the defense can't hold the lead" or "we need better defensive backs", that's more of simply stating a legit reason why the team isn't winning.....or, as you said, stating that "the Steelers aren't as good as people thought" this year.

In my opinion, I think there is just a fine line between winning and losing. They weren't dominant when they were winning, they just found a way to win a lot of close games and now they're losing those games. They could be 11-5 or 6-10 within a matter of a few pivotal games that go one way or the other.

As a Steelers fan, I'd like to see them have a more efficient offense where they can get off to fast starts and put teams away. They haven't been able to get there so naturally every week is going to be close and on the table.

^^SOUnd like bill cowher there in the first comment. He always would say that.


and it is true.......in the NFL there is such a fine line between W and L's...much more so than in college or HS football.

Steelers defense is still up there in yards given up, and if they take away the points from te 8 returns the points look good as well (I realize other teams may score some on thoes drives anyways but still....)

Time of possession is up from last year.

Gonna have a 1000 yard rusher, prolly 2 1000 yard receivers, a 3000 yard passer (think those are all correct...just goin on memory) TOP is up byt almost a minute.....defense overall in yards is good.........but just not making the plays in criticial situations. Plain and simple.

That is what it comes down to. Injuries are a crutch and I dont like to even mention...so I wont dwell on that.



Shallow men believe in luck, true men believe in cause-and-effect. Dont wanna say this.....maybe I wont say luck but sometimes the ball just doesnt bounce your way. Lets jus say this.......at times you just have to be fortunate...just a little bit lucky.

Seems when things are going well..when youre having a great season ya see a batted ball fall into your hands, or a fumble squirts away from the opposing team, or a QB makes a bad throw or a WR drops a ball in a critical situation.

Believe it or not....sometimes it can be just that. Now....the most talented teams put themselves into better positions to take advantage of those lucky bounces.

So..yeah...NFL is such a fine line between winning and losing.

thavoice wrote: Same "excuse" as every other loss.........they didnt play well enough to win.

PLain and simple.

Every team can give reasons after every loss as to why they got beat.

Each Bengals loss they can give a reason why they lost....same with every browns loss.
You can cut and paste the names fro those two teams, and every team, into what you posted and that is what fans are saying about their team.

So....what is exactly your point?

My point is the Steelers are just an average team this year. Plain and simple.

Actually, at this point, record-wise they are below average.

One could argue that because of their total offensive and defensive stats they are above average, but I am a results-oriented person and in the end you ultimately are as good as your record says you are...and right now that is slightly below average.

That might be being kind. They've been bad in this current stretch losing to the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns.

But even with that, it's not like they couldn't beat the Packers, Ravens and Dolphins. Not blowouts but each game 17-13, 20-17, 24-20. It would only take a little bit of good fortune and guys making the plays to go from being 6-10 to 9-7.

Non wrote: That might be being kind. They've been bad in this current stretch losing to the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns.

But even with that, it's not like they couldn't beat the Packers, Ravens and Dolphins. Not blowouts but each game 17-13, 20-17, 24-20. It would only take a little bit of good fortune and guys making the plays to go from being 6-10 to 9-7.

^^^Keep drinking the kool-aid. Stick a fork in them.

^^Yeah...pretty true statement they are done and cannot make the playoffs but dont know what you all mean about drinking the koolaid. Non's comments are realistic. Could they get blown out? Sure..anything can happen. Can they win? Sure...anything can happen. Even in this losing stretch they havent been getting blown out so it is realistic the games will be close.

Ya just wanna get the steeler nation riled up, we know that...ya gotta take your shots now because ya have reason to believe teh team wont be down for long.

That's fine.


Have your fun now.

Non wrote: In my opinion, I think there is just a fine line between winning and losing. They weren't dominant when they were winning, they just found a way to win a lot of close games and now they're losing those games. They could be 11-5 or 6-10 within a matter of a few pivotal games that go one way or the other.

As a Steelers fan, I'd like to see them have a more efficient offense where they can get off to fast starts and put teams away. They haven't been able to get there so naturally every week is going to be close and on the table.

Vary valid points. Last year, they did catch some breaks and they won a Super Bowl.This year, they haven't caught many breaks, but good teams shouldn't need good fortune to beat the Chicago, KC, Oakland, or Cleveland.

They beat the Vikings earlier this year and only lost to the Ravens 20-17 in overtime with their backup quarterback.

I'm not saying they're going to win these games but there's a chance. My point is if that happens, even if they barely win all three, they would be 9-7 compared to maybe 6-10. It probably wouldn't take that much to turn these losses into wins.

They beat the Vikings earlier this year and only lost to the Ravens 20-17 in overtime with their backup quarterback.

I'm not saying they're going to win these games but there's a chance. My point is if that happens, even if they barely win all three, they would be 9-7 compared to maybe 6-10. It probably wouldn't take that much to turn these losses into wins and go from being a bad team or average team to above average.

What needs to happen for the Steelers to get in? Obviously, they need to win out, but do you guys know what kind of help they need?

I posted it on another thread.

It's a long, complicated process.

Jacksonville at 7-7 needs to lose once more and they play at New England next week

N.Y. Jets need to lose twice and they play Atlanta, Indianapolis and Cincinnati

and then

either Denver loses twice (at Philadelphia, Oakland, K.C.)
or
Baltimore loses twice (to Pittsburgh and also to either Oakland or Chicago)

That last part is the major hurdle in all of it, other than the Steelers taking care of their business.

They have no shot unless Oakland or Kansas City can upset Denver, along with them losing at Philly or Baltimore losing to either Chicago or Oakland, along with losing to Pittsburgh. Nothing else really matters as far as help unless this happens.

There are also a few other teams to be concerned about

Miami 7-6
Tennessee 6-7
Houston 6-7

Miami plays at Tennessee this week. It's better for the Dolphins to lose that game for the Steelers sake just to be safe. The Steelers can beat the Dolphins but another loss will ensure that the Dolphins are at least 8-8 and can't mess things up in a three-way tiebreaker. Tennessee really can't because they lost to Pittsburgh and they have a worse conference record.

Houston plays at St. Louis, at Miami and New England. It's possible they can win out but one loss eliminates them.

What stinks is Oakland is down to Charlie Frye at quarterback.

I love these Steeler hate threads, they are hilarious!

Bottom line, the Steelers have not found a way to win in crunch time, which is a big disappointment because they were so good at winning close games last year. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.........but no one has blown the Steelers out this year, a play here or there and they could easily bee 10-3/9-4, but you have to make those plays and they haven't.

As some others have said....a lot of that is just fans discussing the Steelers shortcomings this season. Wow, it's pretty bad when those are considered excuses. Heretic said it best.

And the Steelers are not a good football team this season. Not sure who is arguing otherwise.

Honestly, I think the problem stems mainly from the offensive line.

As predicted the refs did their job in keep the home team in the playoff race and I am sure this will be the same next week.

Waaaaaaaah

newarkcatholicfan wrote: As predicted the farm animals couldn't escape me and I am sure this will be the same next week.

Fix'd.

As for today, while there were MANY things I wished the Steelers could have done better (particularly on defense), they did enough things right to win today. No "excuses" here. Thank Thor they won....I'd hate to have things like "our secondary can't stop anyone" be labeled an "excuse" from some idiot.

Heretic wrote:

newarkcatholicfan wrote: As predicted the farm animals couldn't escape me and I am sure this will be the same next week.

So was this your way of letting everyone know you have a farm animal fetish and your hoping that other are as sick as you?