…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.
I was texting this to my Bears fan buddy. Minshew is just good enough and we are SO much better coached that every game we are in it. It’s been a lot of fun.
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.
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
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.
Competent and Competitive. We hadn’t looked competent and were not truly competitive for the past few seasons.
It’s been great! Zach Moss, Josh Downs, Steichen, Buckner, Pittman, KFM, all a breath of fresh air… except the Browns game. Fuck you refs.