…that no matter how this season finishes, that it was fun? Most if not all of us came into this season with little to no expectations. Rookie quarterback to develop, questions elsewhere in the roster, our O-line an unknown after how they played last season. All pressure was off, nobody expected this team to be any good.
And then the JT drama starts. And AR gets injured.
Yet somehow despite all of it, we’ve been… I’ll say not great perhaps. But we have been GOOD.
This team, that was supposed to be bottom feeding this year, fighting for a top pick, is instead in the mix fighting for a playoff spot. Even with our backup as starter. Even with the rest of it.
Last season was miserable. Almost to the point of making me hate the game. This year has reminded me why I love it. So no matter how this season ends, I’ve had a blast watching it. For the Shoe.
Yes.
It has been fun. Sucks that AR got hurt, but I don’t think there is any reason to think he can’t stay healthy next year. Tua was basically told to quit football last year by all the media types bc of the concussions and he had been fine this year. As long as he protects himself he’ll be fine.
But for this season, yes it has been cool to see them compete, fight back and not roll over, the coaching difference has been night and day. And for the rest of the season? To quote Major League: “Well I guess there’s only only one thing left to do. Win the whole…f***ing…thing.”
I’m having fun watching every Sunday. A lot more fun than any of the last few seasons really. I’d like to credit that to Steichen
This is how I feel. Even though it’s another “what if” year, we actually have a shot because of good play-calling.
Steichen is always trying to make the plays fit the players, instead of the other way around.
Funnest season to watch in prob last 5 years
I root for us to win and obviously would like to se us play an extra game or two. However I don’t get mad at losses, there’s a lot of growth in this team under Steichen. Moral victories are dumb, but the roster looks a lot better than we though, the draft despite the injuries has promise and we are winning games ahead of schedule which goes a long way in building a winning culture
I think it’s all gravy at this point. Nobody outside of this fan base and organization thought we would improve from last year. It seems silly to think that in hindsight given the shit show that was last season, but the reason I want to see a playoff push happen (even if we just miss the playoffs) is because we’re doing it with our backup QB in Minshew. Makes me even more excited about what we might be able to do next year with a healthy AR!
70% of this sub said we’d win 5 or less games.
Well, we had a rookie starting at quarterback. Expecting more than 5 wins is a little crazy.
Last season was miserable. Almost to the point of making me hate the game.
Let me tell you about a time long-ago known as “2011”
You know the irony is, that year I barely followed football or anything else really. I graduated that spring and got my first job that fall before leaving for missionary school in January. Had I been actively following, I’m sure I’d have the same disgust as I did last year.
And if you think that was bad, sit right down and let me try to explain the early 90’s to you…
I was there for that too (even though I was a kid). I still remember the 95 AFC Championship game, and I still hate the Steelers because of it.
It’s way more fun than last year, for sure. But I was kind of hoping for a tank season once AR was lost for the year to reload with high round picks. We’ll see how it ges. Mediocrity is often worse than being terrible because you can’t get the talent you need to make that next leap.
Will we keep Minshew for next year?
I think that a no brainer at this point.
Whi knows. On one side he hasn’t shown enough to be a starter elsewhere, on the other hand quality backups will be at a premium after this season. I guess we keep him for the familiarity, he aint gonna be that expensive. Steichen might also want to add a more mobile QB, so they can run the same offense as with AR. Someone like Tyler Huntley wouldn’t surprise me.
As long as he doesn’t think he can be a starter somewhere else
There’s a bit of a dark cloud over my enthusiasm for the team, because we’ve just been so damn injury prone this season. Its an enormous drag that AR and Stroud don’t get to compete in their rookie season because Stroud shows signs of greatness, and we still don’t know what we have in AR. Overall though, you simply have to call this season a success. Shane Steichand is the difference maker.
I think we’ll lose to Pittsburg, Tomlin is too good, but win our remaining games.
Highlight of the season. Watching as we beat Ravens. It was an ugly game. I was jumping screaming and I not once did that the past year of football.
It’s been better than I expected, after AR went down I was ready to just tank again but I’d forgotten how much better football is when you’re vying for a playoff spot. I get to have active rooting interest in games I usually just watch casually to see if something interesting happens. I was pulling hard for Philly to beat the Bills last week. It not only makes Colts games better but the entire league better. Mostly I’ve just enjoyed watching competent playcalling, with Reich things always got predictable and whenever he tried anything tricky it felt like it never worked. Shane’s O is effective and when he sprinkles those trick plays in they WORK. And this is all with a below average QB. It’s both fun now and really exciting for the future.
It’s been better than I expected, after AR went down I was ready to just tank again but I’d forgotten how much better football is when you’re vying for a playoff spot.
Got to admit I was in that mindset too. Then you remember how positive winning is for teams, even if you’re not a realistic SB shot. We’re building under Steichen and each W raises morale for next year
Oh yeah. I’m actually enjoying the games this year instead of dreading them. Last year sucked. This year we’re at the very least, in the mix.
This season could have been super depressing after AR’s injury (potentially even worse than last year), but Steichen, Minshew, and Zach Moss have really made it a lot of fun. If AR can stay healthy and show even a tiny bit of progress next year, the future looks really good.
I’d say exceeded expectations, but when you’re expectations are rock bottom, it’s not that hard. They are doing better than I thought. So that’s a plus. The team has been in the spotlight for too many off field situations than I care for (players betting, JT drama, PED suspension, Irsay drama) No prime time games is boring as hell but I understand how the team is on “probation” from prime time after last year. Hopefully AR can recover and get stronger for off-season. If not I’m afraid we’ll be back to day 1 with him start of next year while the rest of the divisional QB’s (Stroud specifically) will continue to grow and get stronger. Yes, it can be exciting that they’re “in the hunt” for playoffs, but we’ve seen this play out once before (winter 2021… still never watched the final hard knocks episode that season)
The overall NFL product this year has been extremely lackluster for me. Prime time games have been absolute duds. Cannot stand watching/listening to any eagles or chiefs games. Too many NY team prime time games. How did the bears get 4 prime time slots?!