Success

On that point, I will take new coordinators all day. One thing I have never understood - we have a QB like Allen, and we promote from within on the coordinators, instead of hiring experienced, proven & successful candidates. Which we obviously could. I'm okay w/ McD as HC/culture guy, IF we have top-tier coordinators running the offense & defense. All of that said, in no way do I want to lose more games to see if that happens. I hope we win out and still grab the 1 seed.

Only 1 from KC. I guess we differ on "fortunate." I'm not sure I consider it too lucky when we're coughing the ball up a lot, but happen to recover.

I didn't see us having fortunate bounces in the playoffs - particularly that KC game.

I agree & McD's road record is clear. But Super Bowl runs come in all shapes & sizes. Maybe being a WC team & underdog will actually help. I'd bet that every game we play is close, and down to the 4th quarter - if we get a bounce or 2, this could still be the year.

A bit too much negativity here. For starters, this is a depth move. Because we have had more than our fair share of injuries on the defensive side. While it would be nice to sign a pro-bowler, there aren't too many of those floating around at this time of year. And we have no idea what we'll get out of Lawson, if he ends up playing. He's 31, which isn't exactly over the hill at his position. But we need players. Too many guys have been hurt.

We can make a run this year. As the OP states - getting Oliver, Brown & Kincaid back, and staying relatively healthy the rest of the way, will be key. Even as a WC, I'd be excited about the playoffs this year. We've been wildly inconsistent, but we're a scary match-up for any team out there. When we're good, we're as good/better than anyone.

Ask me after Sunday. If we beat Pitt on the road, I could see that starting a run, and potentially a 12-5 final record (which may actually still win the division). If we lose, and especially if we do NOT look good doing so - well, that's trouble. This should be a desperation one for us, and if we can't win when we're desperate, this season is probably more of a re-set than a contending kind of year. I think we win & go on a run.

It's an illusion. They're very improved, and a good team - but they're not what the hype suggests right now. If they do win the division and get that 1st place schedule, I'd expect next season to be pretty different.

I saw a pretty funny clip from when it was the Pats/Rams SB. They showed a bar in LA and a bar in Boston reacting to their teams making it. The Boston bar was insane - people jumping all over each other, beer flying. In the LA bar, there were like 6-7 people at the bar, and one guy looked up at the TV and said something like, 'hey, I think we just made the Super Bowl.' And the people he was with gave some half-hearted "cool" reactions, and they toasted their drinks pretty calmly. I'm sure it wasn't like that all over LA, but I don't think they're much of a football town.

Wow - that was a terrible move.

Kind of a bummer to hear. Man, if there was one unit I thought we were set at heading into the season, it was this one. So much investment.

Is Bosa hurt or something? What did I miss? I thought his wrist thing was fine now?

With Pickens, we'd be in the top spot right now. I'm not sure why this team does what it does. We have viable options at the deadline, also. There just seems to be a stubbornness when it comes to the WR position.

I have a weird hunch that this still goes down to the final week.

They have a very improved team, which I'd guess is still somewhere in the 4-6 range in the AFC despite the fact that they could end up w/ the 1 seed. They haven't drafted very well, but they'll have a lot of cap space heading into next year. If they make the right moves, they could be a top contender. But it's been awhile since they've made the right moves.

"What if I told you that a perennially favored team finally broke through as a WC and when everyone had counted them out?" Oh....this isn't for a 30 for 30?

We don't talk about this enough: Why do most other teams have experienced coordinators - but we "promote from within?" I don't mind McDermott as a culture guy & HC, IF we had legit, experienced & proven coordinators. This is completely malpractice w/ a contending team. I don't know why we think it's "better."

Like, who are we afraid of if we get to the playoffs & our health improves? If we get Oliver & Brown back by January, and have no other significant injuries - am I supposed to worry about the Pats or Broncos? Obviously, either can beat us - but they are decidedly NOT scary teams. This year feels like as good a shot as we've had, even if we end up w/ the WC.

People were saying that about Pickens. If we had Pickens this season, we might still be undefeated.

It heartens me to watch other games. Just get in the tournament. I'll have hope in January, for sure. Maybe a WC run is the thing that finally gets us there.

Not sure about that. They still haven't beaten anyone. If Chase played today, they probably get the L. They're having a "stars aligning" kind of season - but it reminds me more of the Commanders last year than the dynasty-era Pats.

I was just checking a Pats board - there was a TON of celebration about re-taking the AFC East title. They think it's over. So do many here, but I'm not so sure. I'm curious how it goes w/ them & the Bengals tomorrow. Not the toughest game - but it's one of the toughest games on their schedule to this point. Which certainly says a lot.

We're still contenders. We're not TOP contenders - but if you lived through the drought, just being one of those teams that isn't "in the hunt" or worse is pretty good. I remember when the season was WAY over by this time of year. We still have a small shot at the division, and even the 1 seed. I'm not optimistic about either, but nether is unfathomable. I don't think this is "the year" (though you never know). But it wouldn't take too much to make us a top team next year. A good LB, a top tier WR, a safety. We don't have a huge list, despite how things seem right now. I can't wait to have Hoecht for a whole season, playing next to Oliver.

I still think we got hot in December & have as good a shot as anyone once the playoffs start. We've seen in some of the games how good this team CAN be. They can be as good as anyone.

I have faith that we'll see the same. People correctly observe that this team isn't as strong as previous teams. But the league & the AFC also aren't as strong. When I look at our schedule, it's easy for me to see a potential run, starting next Sunday. Honestly, I could even see winning out if guys get a little healthier and the injury bug starts to dissipate.