Enjoy Steelers’ streak while it lasts
The NFL season is finally here.
What began at training camps around the league more than a month ago will end with one team being crowned Super Bowl champion in February and 31 other teams and fanbases winding up disappointed.
When you think about it in those terms, winning a Super Bowl doesn’t seem all that difficult. One of the 32 teams in the NFL will be Super Bowl champion at the end of this season. But in reality, that means if every team was on equal footing, they would all have just over a 3 percent chance to win the championship.
Of course, we all know that not all teams are on equal footing. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have represented the AFC in four of the past five Super Bowls, winning three of those.
Nobody would argue that Kansas City’s chances of winning the Super Bowl are higher than 3 percent.
And few, outside the most fervent of fans, would argue that teams such as New England and Carolina, for example, even have that 3-percent chance of winning. Those teams probably have a greater chance of picking first in next year’s NFL Draft than they do winning the Super Bowl.
But things will happen along the way. Players will emerge. Others will be injured. A team will get hot at the right time. Other teams that start hot will falter late in the season.
They’re all things that lead to the intrigue that surrounds an NFL season.
This brings us to the Steelers and their incredible streak of not having a losing season since 2004, the second-longest such streak in NFL history.
At some point, that streak will come to an end. But there are those out there who talk about a streak of 20 consecutive seasons without a losing record as if it’s a bad thing.
It’s understandable that there are those who want more playoff success, particularly in recent years. But that does not discount 20 consecutive seasons of non-losing football in a league in which things are set up so that teams that do the worst get the best draft capital.
And the fact is, you can’t compete for the Super Bowl if you don’t first have a winning record and also make the playoffs. You have to get into the postseason to have a shot.
Fact is, there are now children who were born in 2003 who have never seen the Steelers not have a chance to compete for a Super Bowl. In that time, they’ve seen the team play fewer than a handful of games at the end of a season that didn’t matter in some form or fashion.
That’s remarkable.
Again, that streak will end at some point, perhaps even this season. We’ll see.
But while it continues to be ongoing, enjoy it. Your team is relevant on a year-in, year-out basis.
Patriots fans, who had two decades of winning under Bill Belichick, will be happy to have a winning season or two over the end of this decade.
This week’s games
Steelers (plus 3) at Falcons: New Falcons QB Kirk Cousins – and everyone else on offense – didn’t play a single snap in the preseason. In fact, he hasn’t played a snap since tearing his Achilles’ tendon last October in Minnesota. New team, a new system and a lack of game preparation could equal a slow start. That will be a problem against this Steelers defense, which figures to be among the top units in the NFL. News that tight end Kyle Pitts is dealing with a hamstring injury also isn’t good for Atlanta’s offense, which doesn’t have a lot of depth. Take the Steelers, 24-20
Patriots (plus 8½) at Bengals: The Patriots will be vying for the No. 1 overall pick at the end of this season. The Bengals are my pick to win the AFC North. This one doesn’t look like it will be all that competitive. Take the Bengals, 27-10
Cowboys (plus 2½) at Browns: Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson had offseason shoulder surgery and has been in and out of practices to rest his still ailing shoulder. He also didn’t play a single snap in the preseason. Dallas doesn’t appear to have much of a running game, but the passing game could be prolific. Cleveland’s defense was much better at home in 2023 than on the road. Watson’s rustiness is the deciding factor here. Take the Cowboys, 20-16
Panthers (plus 4) at Saints: The Panthers claimed four cornerbacks off waivers last week for their 53-man roster. That means as many as four cornerbacks who weren’t good enough to make another team’s roster will be suited up to play meaningful downs for Carolina. The Saints are old, but they’re healthy enough right now. Take the Saints, 26-17
Commanders (plus 3) at Buccaneers: Washington’s Jayden Daniels is a dynamic young quarterback. But this Bucs team won the NFC South last season and has playmakers of its own. Washington’s offensive line and defense will be an issue all season. Take the Bucs, 30-17
Last season’s record: 60-39-3 ATS; 68-34 Straight up
Dale Lolley hosts The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and writes a Sunday column for the Observer-Reporter.