Don’t panic yet: the Steelers are historically slow starters
Following an incredibly ugly performance by the Pittsburgh Steelers losing in their own house to an erratic Jacksonville Jaguars team 30-9 on Sunday, frustrated fans are confused and aiming their anger in every direction as to why a team who appeared in the AFC Championship game last season doesn’t appear to even be a playoff caliber team five weeks into the season.
Just to be clear: I’ve heard the cries for Ben to retire. I’ve heard the mob’s calls for Mike Tomlin and Todd Haley’s heads.
I think all of that is preposterous.
Almost historically (and I don’t mean this to be complimentary) the Steelers have been slow starters. Going back a few seasons, they escaped an embarrassing second half in their home opener against the Cleveland Browns, lost to the Baltimore Ravens on the road 26-6, defeated the Carolina Panthers in Carolina, and then lost 27-24 to a bad Tampa Bay team at home.
2015 saw the same peaks and valleys as Pittsburgh fell to New England in Week 1, beat up a bad San Francisco team at home in Week 2, struggled to a win in St. Louis in Week 3, and then lost in an overtime Thursday Night game to the Ravens where Michael Vick was under center.
Last year the team fell to the Eagles and Dolphins on the road in the first six weeks of the season, where the Dolphins game set off a four-game losing streak.
Yet in all of those years, theres’s a common link: the Steelers ended up in the postseason all three of those seasons and even won their division two of those three years as well.
So there’s no need to panic yet Steelers fans. In fact, there’s no reason to panic until we see where the team stands around Thanksgiving. They’ll have five-to-six games left on the schedule and will know where they stand in the AFC, as well as their own division.
Besides, Mike Tomlin coached teams tend to get stronger as the season moves forward. There’s no reason to believe 2017 will be any different in that regard.
