(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
When the Steelers lost to the Bengals in Week 3, it was the first time that the Steelers lost back-to-back home games since 2003, which was also the last time the Steelers had a losing season.
I tweeted a few days later that this year's Steelers season reminds me of 2006 and 2013, but the results will probably be worse. Both seasons ended with an 8-8 record. At 1-3, Sunday is a must-win game for the Steelers, already in October. I have them winning tomorrow but if they fall to the Broncos, there really is a good chance that they could be 1-6 by the time they face the Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 9.
Russell Wilson is expected to be out for the Steelers-Seahawks game on Sunday Night Football in Week 6, as he's dealing with a broken finger. So, maybe the Steelers steal one there, but Geno Smith didn't look all that bad when he filled in for Wilson in Thursday night's loss to the Rams.
And if the Steelers can't beat the Broncos at home, I for sure don't see them defeating the Browns in Cleveland in Week 8 after the bye week.
The last time the Steelers started a season 1-6 was in 1988. Let's just hope it doesn't get to that point this year. The Steelers finished the 1988 season at 5-11, which is the worst Steelers record since Chuck Noll's first year as head coach in 1969 when the Steelers went 1-13.
The Steelers have lost three straight games by 9-plus points, which is their longest such streak since ... 1988, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. The Steelers lost by 9-plus points from Week 5-7 in 1988 to the Browns, Cardinals and Oilers.
Prior to 1988, the last time the Steelers started a season 1-6 was in 1986, which was also the last time the Steelers lost their first three home games, according to Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. That streak would be broken tomorrow if the Steelers lose to the Broncos. The Steelers finished the 1986 season at 6-10.
Overall, the last time the Steelers lost three straight home games was in 2003 and the last time they finished with a losing record at home was in 1999. Finishing with a 2-6 record at Three Rivers Stadium. The Steelers were 4-4 at home in 2003, which is the only season at Heinz Field where they didn't have a winning record.
Hopefully, the Steelers turn things around tomorrow with a win over the Broncos because if not, it would appear that this year will end up like a Steelers season in the 1980s.
Comments