I know the 2023 class is what's in right now, but I think it's a good time to do a retrospective on the 2022 WR class. Which ones are we buying and who should be sold while the value is still good?
We know from historical data that WRs who are successful for fantasy usually show some of that in year one. You can judge this success off pure yards or yards/route run and both are fairly predictive after just one season.
Many rookies don't get on the field as much as we would like due to players in front of them. Yards/Route Run allows us to answer the question "what did they do when the got opportunities?", while flat yards helps give us context into which players earned opportunities from their teams.
If you're curious, here's a look at all of 2022's best WRs where you can sort by Y/RR to see how these players compare to veterans.
Below, we'll look at these metrics vs their current KTC WR rank to identify buys and sells from this historically good class.

Player	Yards	Y/RR	KTC WR Rank
Garrett Wilson	1103	2.0	4
Treylon Burks	444	1.9	29
Drake London	886	2.3	11
Jameson Williams	41	1.4	31
Chris Olave	1042	2.6	8
Jahan Dotson	523	1.5	25
Skyy Moore	250	1.6	58
Christian Watson	611	2.6	19
George Pickens	801	1.5	24
John Metchie	?	?	55
David Bell	214	0.8	95
Alec Pierce	593	1.4	60
Tyquan Thornton	247	0.9	83
Wan'Dale Robinson	227	2.0	52
Khalil Shakir	161	1.5	79
Jalen Tolbert	12	0.3	98
Romeo Doubs	425	1.5	63

Value Buys

• Treylon Burks: Valued at just WR29, Burks hit a high enough yardage threshold for us to think he will earn opportunities, and had a strong Y/RR when he got his chances.
  
• Christian Watson: Watson comes in at WR19, but sports the highest Y/RR of the class (tied with Olave). This is truly elite territory. Other WRs that hit 2.6 Y/RR last year include Davante Adams, CD Lamb, and Jaylen Waddle
  
• Wan'Dale Robinson: A much cheaper option at WR52, Robinson's total yards are too low for us to be super confident in a crowded WR room, but he was productive with his chances. This feels like a good risk to take.
  

Good sell value

• George Pickens: His 800 yards are very nice, but he's one of the more mediocre performers in Y/RR at 1.5 . His value has increased since his draft last year and personally I think it's a good time to cash out and move on.
  
• Jahan Dotson: I really wish I had written this up before buying him mid draft, but he's in a similar boat to Pickens. Holding good value right now but his Y/RR suggests he won't be a consistent producer. Compare his stats to Romeo Doubs and tell me who you would rather have at current value?
  

Both of these guys I still like on some level, so I'm not saying you have to dump them for whatever you can get, but there may be value had in selling now.

Get out while you can

• Skyy Moore
  
• David Bell
  
• Tyquan Thornton
  

These are guys that have seen serious value hits from year 1, but are still worth something. They all have low absolute yards and none of them make up for it with exceptional Y/RR.

Just drop them

• Jaylen Tolbert: sorry guys it's already over

I made a website that uses sportsbook lines to calculate the probabilities for XFL (and other sports games). It is somewhat similar to the probabilities that fivethirtyeight publishes for the NFL,MLB/NBA etc. So, it might be especially interesting for leagues like the XFL that don't have probabilities currently published.
https://mattsbets.com/events/xfl
Let me know if it is interesting or useful!

Full Series:

• Introduction
• Bridesmaids
• Dynastenders (this post)
• Dynasties

I’ve been sitting on this series for a while, but because I don’t want to redo everything after the season, I want to hopefully get both of these last installments in before the end of the regular season. There are two teams on these respective lists (Milwaukee and Golden State) who are still relevant today, which will hopefully pique some interest. I might end up editing longer write-ups for some of these teams later, while still making sure to get the post out in a reasonable amount of time.
A “dynastender”, coined by Bill Simmons, is a team who won a championship, but failed to qualify as a Dynasty proper (which requires three or more titles in six or fewer seasons). While the Bridesmaid list had 15 entries (as it takes more to stand out without a title to your name), this Dynastender list is lengthier (23 teams), as winning a championship will give you enough points to get to 10 most of the tme.
It’s often said in contexts like this that nobody remembers second place, and you’d rather be at the bottom of this list than at the top of the previous one. However, thinking about it I’m not sure I agree. That’s true in one respect, but Bridesmaids do have the advantage of standing out for their lack of hardware; having the marks of a potential dynasty with zero championships is a compelling storyline, but if you do win a championship you might run the risk of getting blurred together with numerous other teams with similar storylines.
There are two slight changes I made to the rules when it comes to displaying players and coaches: [1] if a coach won a championship, they get included (Pat Riley wouldn’t be included on the Heat otherwise); [2] for a player to make the list for 20 Win Shares, only seasons where they’re top 5 on the team in WS count (my memory of the Bridesmaid list is vague, and I might have missed 20-WS players before, but this rule change makes it easier for me to not miss anyone).
Two more notes by way of citation:

• I got all of the data for this series from Basketball Reference.
• Credit to Joe Dimino for having his own NFL dynasty system shortly after James’ MLB one. His is part of the family tree of this one, although I don’t think I mentioned it in my original post.

Missed the Cut

I actually have to make some cuts to get under 40,000 characters, so this is what I decided to cut (I'll put this section in the comments). Besides, maybe it'll help build suspense for which teams did and didn't make the main list.

23. St. Louis Hawks, 1957-1961

Head Coach: Alex Hannum, Ed Macauley, Paul Seymour
Key Players: Bob Petit, Cliff Hagan, Clyde Lovellette, Ed Macauley
Dynastender Rankings: 9th-16th in Seasons (5), 19th in Points (12.39), 23rd in adjusted Championships (0.52), 8th in adjusted Finals appearances (2.07), 23rd in win% (.597), 20th in playoff win% (.528), 23rd in adjusted Net Rating (+1.3), 23rd in Top 5 aNR (+1.3)
Avg z-score: -1.08
Just like with the Bridesmaid list, we start with a team from the early days of the NBA; accomplishments like making two Finals and winning one are likely to be more impressive today than back when there were a handful of teams in the league. The title the Hawks did win also comes in at #3 on Bill Simmons’ footnote title list, due to a Bill Russell injury which weakened the Celtics. On the other hand, that was the only Finals loss that one of the greatest teams of all time suffered, and the Hawks took them to seven in ‘57 and ‘60. So maybe winning a single title is a “fairer” result than thinking only about Russell’s injury would lead one to believe.

22. Seattle SuperSonics, 1978-1980

Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens
Key Players: Gus Williams, Jack Sikma, Dennis Johnson, Lonnie Shelton, Marvin Webster
Dynastender Rankings: 21st-23rd in Seasons (3), 20th in Points (11.77), 16th in adjusted Championships (0.86), 15th in adjusted Finals appearances (1.71), 20th in win% (.630), 12th-13th in playoff win% (.593), 21st in adjusted Net Rating (+2.7), 22nd in Top 5 aNR (+1.6)
Avg z-score: -0.82
These guys might be the most forgettable post-merger team in this entire series, at least from where I’m sitting. Mike the NBA Guy agrees with me, as he made a YouTube video with basically the same name. It probably doesn’t help that they didn’t have many memorable players, and that they played in the 70s; too late for the nostalgic Wilt/Russell era, but too early for the Bird/Magic era.
In ‘78, Seattle lost a seven-game Finals series to the Bullets, the worst NBA champion of all time (by both win percentage and net rating). The next season, they won an extremely nail-biting conference finals against the Suns, and struck back by beating Washington in five to get the title. 56 wins and a conference final loss in 1980 was enough to qualify for this list, but they weren’t able to sustain success for long enough to be remembered.

21. Miami Heat, 2004-2006

Head Coach: Stan Van Gundy, Pat Riley
Key Players: Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Shaquille O’Neal, Eddie Jones, Damon Jones, Lamar Odom
Dynastender Rankings: 21st-23rd in Seasons (3), 23rd in Points (10), 8th-13th in adjusted Championships (1), 19th-21st in adjusted Finals appearances (1), 22nd in win% (.622), 5th in playoff win% (.647), 17th in adjusted Net Rating (+3.3), 21st in Top 5 aNR (+2.0)
Avg z-score: -0.76
Shaq’s last real hurrah was in Miami, where his stint alongside Dwyane Wade was so short that despite winning a (footnote) championship, his years alone actually wouldn’t have been enough for his team to be an official Dynastender. The 2004 series between Miami and New Orleans is otherwise rather forgettable, but the Heat qualified for that season- and for the list overall- because they were able to eke that series out in seven.
Relatively speaking, the only real bright spot keeping the Heat ahead of the Sonics is their playoff record; in fact, this is the first of five teams we’ll cover in this series who have a higher win percentage in the playoffs than in the regular season. Two sweeps to start off 2005 help, as well as two close series losses in ‘04 and ‘05, followed by a solid championship run where nobody took Miami to seven.

20. Los Angeles/Utah Stars, 1970-1974

Head Coach: Bill Sharman, LaDell Andersen, Joe Mullaney
Key Players: Zelmo Beaty, Willie Wise, Jimmy Jones, Ron Boone, Mark Calvin
Dynastender Rankings: 9th-16th in Seasons (5), 18th in Points (13.17), 19th-20th in adjusted Championships (0.61), 13th in adjusted Finals appearances (1.79), 19th in win% (.633), 10th in playoff win% (.595), 18th in adjusted Net Rating (+3.15), 18th in Top 5 aNR (+3.15)
Avg z-score: -0.64
If this team doesn’t look familiar, it’s because I decided to include the ABA for this series.
The LA Stars managed to make the ABA Finals after a 43-41 season in 1970, the year before they moved to Utah. The team improved after moving, sporting 57, 60, and 55-win seasons, and squeaking out a championship in ‘71 after seven-game series in both of the final rounds, including the mighty Pacers. Utah would be the 1-seed in the Western division the next three seasons, but lose in the playoffs: twice to the Pacers, and once to a team coming up on this list.

19. Rochester Royals, 1949-1954

Head Coach: Les Harrison
Key Players: Bobby Wanzer, Arnie Risen, Bob Davies, Arnie Johnson, Jack Coleman
Dynastender Rankings: 5th-8th in Seasons (6), 17th-18th in Points (13.17), 19th-20th in adjusted Championships (0.61), 22nd in adjusted Finals appearances (0.61), 14th in win% (.658), 23rd in playoff win% (.500), 14th in adjusted Net Rating (+4.0), 14th in Top 5 aNR (+4.3)
Avg z-score: -0.64
This Royals team is best known as the last time the Kings’ franchise has won a title; when you have to go back this far, it’s probably even more humiliating than simply having never won a title at all.
We have to go all the way back to the BAA for the start of this run; where in ‘48-49, the Royals had the best record in the league but lost the Division Finals to Mikan’s Lakers. Then in 1950, the new NBA had a best-of 3 format before the Finals, where the Royals got swept in two games against the Ft. Wayne Pistons. It was in Rochester’s worst regular season of this run (‘51) that they actually won the championship, in what was also their only Finals appearance. They sustained their run with three more moderately good regular seasons, but petered out in the playoffs against the Lakers (twice) and Pistons (once).

18. Kentucky Colonels, 1970-1975

Head Coach: Gene Rhodes, Joe Mullaney, Babe McCarthy, Hubie Brown
Key Players: Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, Louie Dampier, Goose Ligon, Darel Carrier, Cincy Powell
Dynastender Rankings: 5th-8th in Seasons (6), 16th in Points (13.76), 21st-22nd in adjusted Championships (0.58), 14th in adjusted Finals appearances (1.76), 18th in win% (.643), 17th in playoff win% (.570), 15th in adjusted Net Rating (+3.7), 13th in Top 5 aNR (+4.5)
Avg z-score: -0.51
We’re back in the ABA, and to a team which somehow had six different head coaches in a six-year period of success.
Like happens occasionally in this list, the seasons where Kentucky saw playoff success aren’t the ones you’d necessarily expect. They had the best regular season in ABA history (68-16, +8 net rating), and lost in the first round of the playoffs. However, that season was sandwizhed between two Finals runs where they went 44-40 and 56-28 in the RS. They lost two Game 7s in those Finals, and even outscored the Pacers in ‘73, meaning this Dynastender run was reasonably close to becoming a Dynasty. However, they didn’t get to the 10-pont threshold until their actual championship season, with an impressive 12-3 playoff run including a convincing 5-game defeat of Indiana.

17. New York Nets, 1974-1976

Head Coach: Kevin Loughery
Key Players: Julius Erving, Brian Taylor, Billy Paultz, Larry Kenon
Dynastender Rankings: 21st-23rd in Seasons (3), 22nd in Points (10.14), 7th in adjusted Championships (1.13), 18th in adjusted Finals appearances (1.13), 13th in win% (.667), 4th in playoff win% (.656), 12th in adjusted Net Rating (+4.4), 20th in Top 5 aNR (+2.65)
Avg z-score: -0.49
Rounding out our ABA section is a short-but-sweet run of two titles in three years from Dr. J and the Nets. They also had a very impressive championship run at the start of their Dynastender, going 12-2 in the ‘74 playoffs. They then rounded out ABA history by beating the Nuggets in a six-game Finals in 1976.

16. Houston Rockets, 1993-1997

Head Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich
Key Players: Hakeem Olajuwon, Kenny Smith, Clyde Drexler, Mario Ellie, Otis Thorpe, Charles Barkley
Dynastender Rankings: 9th-16th in Seasons (5), 12th in Points (17), 3rd in adjusted Championships (1.90), 12th in adjusted Finals appearances (1.90), 16th in win% (.646), 12th-13th in playoff win% (.593), 22nd in adjusted Net Rating (+2.4), 17th in Top 5 aNR (+3.3)
Avg z-score: -0.49
We’ve left the land of historical footnotes, and from this point on these teams will mostly be remembered by hard-core fans.
With Michael Jordan spending his time either playing baseball or losing a memory-holed second-round series to Orlando, the man picked ahead of him in the ‘84 draft took advantage of the power vacuum. He led Houston to two straight titles, including an empathic upset sweep over the aforementioned Magic. Then they tried forming a superteam with Barkley, but John Stockton and the Jazz ended their season, and it turns out their Dynastender.
Hakeem’s Rockets are stuck near ABA-land, with their biggest problem being their weak regular seasons (both in terms of net rating and win percentage, plus missed opportunities for Points). Their second championship, and the Points it gave them, does help, but it can only propel them so far when every other category is lacking.

15. Philadelphia 76ers, 1966-1969

Head Coach: Dolph Schayes, Alex Hannum, Jack Ramsay
Key Players: Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, Billy Cunningham
Dynastender Rankings: 17th-20th in Seasons (4), 21st in Points (10.67), 21st-22nd in adjusted Championships (0.58), 23rd in adjusted Finals appearances (0.58), 2nd in win% (.738), 21st in playoff win% (.526), 8th in adjusted Net Rating (+5.15), 15th in Top 5 aNR (+4.1)
Avg z-score: -0.41
This franchise enjoyed three full seasons of Wilt’s services, and took advantage; with a stupendous 185-58 regular season record (a 62-win pace), and a ‘67 season which ended the Celtics’ eight-peat of championships emphatically.
That season’s East Finals ended 4-1 in Philly’s favor, with the Sixers outscoring the Celtics by a total of 50 points. Both of those metrics (the three-game and 50-point margin) were franchise records for Celtics losses; the three-game margin wasn’t beaten until 1983, and the 50-point drubbing wouldn’t be topped until 2004. Beating the eight-time defending champs this badly is extremely impressive.
Still, the Sixers didn’t count as a Dynastender quite yet until 1969, when the remnants of the team were able to amass 55 wins with Wilt no longer in town.

14. Boston Celtics, 1972-1977

Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn
Key Players: John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, Paul Silas, Don Nelson, Don Chaney
Dynastender Rankings: 5th-8th in Seasons (6), 9th in Points (18.52), 5th in adjusted Championships (1.53), 16th in adjusted Finals appearances (1.53), 9th in win% (.687), 14th in playoff win% (.588), 20th in adjusted Net Rating (+3.1), 16th in Top 5 aNR (+4.05)
Avg z-score: -0.28
After the retirement of Bill Russell, the Celtics were nearly able to continue his Dynasty (spoiler alert!). 1970 was a dud, a sub-.500 season worth (approximately) -3 points. ‘71 was another playoff miss, but they finished over .500 (44-38), for -2 points. Boston finally got into the positive category in ‘72, but only for 2 points (56 wins and a conference finals loss), meaning that the Celtics satisfied criteria 4 for ending a dynasty (as ‘69 and ‘72 both had to be worth at least three points).
But while Russell’s Dynasty was over, a couple of the same players who were around for its twilight were able to put together a Dynastender on its coattails. Two championships and six seasons of success are both impressive, but other numbers are underwhelming. They have some distance between themselves and everyone below them, but their weak net rating and lack of a popping stat to make up for it keep them in the teens.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers, 2015-2018

Head Coach: David Blatt, Tyronn Lue
Key Players: LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Kyrie Irving
Dynastender Rankings: 17th-20th in Seasons (4), 10th-11th in Points (18), 8th-13th in adjusted Championships (1), 2nd-3rd in adjusted Finals appearances (4), 17th in win% (.643), 1st in playoff win% (.679), 16th in adjusted Net Rating (+3.45), 19th in Top 5 aNR (+2.8)
Avg z-score: -0.27
Of course, few people would think about this Cavs team in isolation; really, it’s a link in the chain of LeBron’s career, which is why I’ll be discussing him as the only player-centric Dynasty on the next list.
However, going through an exercise like this can help underline how special it is to make four Finals in a row. When we include era adjustments, only one other Dynastender that we’ll talk about beats 4 Finals appearances, and the only other one to match it is when LeBron did it with the Heat in the four previous seasons.
The one major asterisk everyone puts on this team is that the East was weak. That might be true, but it’s also overstated. Out of 133 Dynastender seasons, the Cavs’ strengths of schedule (per Basketball Reference) rank, in chronological order: 72th-75th, 97th-99th, 62nd, and 68th-69th. That’s nothing to particularly write home about (although the Cavs’ own weak point differentials meant they weren’t decreasing their own SOS as much as some other teams). Of 78 teams who lost in the conference finals since the 16-team playoff format started, the net rating of the Cavs’ ECF opponents ranked: 38th, 45th, 70th, 60th. Out of 156 second-round losers, Cleveland’s opponents ranked: 91st-92nd, 74th-77th, 55th-60th, and 9th. To be fair, these numbers would be a bit lower if you took SOS into account; but they’re not totally dismal.
In the big picture, it’s relatively rare for people to criticize the Raptors, or the Bucks, or the Big Three Celtics, or the Shaq-Wade Heat, because of a weak conference; even though all of these teams I mentioned have SOSs comparably bad as the Cavs throughout their Dynastender runs. But it was and is brought up over and over again for LeBron’s teams, because his teams were the only ones who were able to consistently benefit from the weak conference. People were complaining about the lack of competition in the East, because when you’re up against LeBron the standard is so much higher to meaningfully count as “competition”.
With all of that said, the Cavs’ weak regular seasons, combined with the fact that LeBron only stayed for four years, anchors them out of the top 10.

12. Toronto Raptors, 2016-2020

Head Coach: Dwane Casey, Nick Nurse
Key Players: Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, Pascal Siakam, Kawhi Leonard
Dynastender Rankings: 9th-16th in Seasons (5), 13th in Points (16), 8th-13th in adjusted Championships (1), 19th-21st in adjusted Finals appearances (1), 6th in win% (.693), 19th in playoff win% (.547), 6th in adjusted Net Rating (+5.4), 8th in Top 5 aNR (+5.4)
Avg z-score: -0.24
The Raptors are one of the weirdest entries in this series, as their run almost feels like three different ones.
The first chapter came as three consecutive solid regular seasons (56, 51 and 59 wins) that were all ended by the aforementioned Cavs. Then they traded for Kawhi Leonard and won a championship with him (A footnote title? Or not?), for the second, one-season chapter. Then they managed to unexpectedly have a great season in the COVID-interrupted 2019-20 campaign, including a 60-win pace and a narrow second-round loss, for one final, one-season chapter.
Putting all of the pieces together, this run registers as an impressive one as far as regular-season success goes, finishing 6th among Dynatenders for both regular-season win percentage and adjusted net rating. Playoff success was a different story, which the aforementioned LeBron series (two of which were sweeps) are mostly responsible for (plus the fact that many of their series wins were close, including their last three wins in ‘19).
This run is technically not officially over yet, but the Raptors would have to win the championship this season in order to extend it. Needless to say, that’s not very likely.

11. New York Knicks, 1969-1974

Head Coach: Red Holzman
Key Players: Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Dick Barnett, Jerry Lucas, Earl Monroe
Dynastender Rankings: 5th-8th in Seasons (6), 8th in Points (18.6), 6th in adjusted Championships (1.44), 7th in adjusted Finals appearances (2.19), 15th in win% (.650), 11th in playoff win% (.593), 11th in adjusted Net Rating (+4.5), 11th in Top 5 aNR (+5.0)
Avg z-score: -0.20
The Knicks were terrible for most of the sixties, never even reaching a .400 win percentage from ‘60 to ‘66. New York had never won a championship, so when the late Willis Reed’s famous heroics helped them beat the Lakers in 1970, it was truly a new leaf to turn over for the club. That season was followed up by a third-straight 50-win season, and then two more consecutive Finals appearances, including another win in ‘73.

10. Milwaukee Bucks, 2019-present

Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer
Key Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe
Dynastender Rankings: 17th-20th in Seasons (4), 15th in Points (15), 8th-13th in adjusted Championships (1), 19th-21st in adjusted Finals appearances (1), 7th in win% (.689), 6th in playoff win% (.633), 3rd in adjusted Net Rating (+6.3), 10th in Top 5 aNR (+5.1)
Avg z-score: -0.10
The NBA’s only reigning Dynastender (that we know of) lands just inside the top ten. All of these numbers are only as of the end of last year, although the Bucks’ run is already confirmed as continuing another season (as they’ve gotten to 50 wins).
A pressing question, of course, might be how the Bucks’ ranking might change depending on their playoff results this year. It’s hard to project, because it depends on some specifics (like how their regular- and post-season records will shake out). However, if I change nothing but seasons/points/champs/finals to account for an NBA championship this season, the Bucks go up to #6 on this list (breaking into what’s currently a pretty solid top-6). Adjusting for a conference finals loss (adding one season and three points) would push them up two spots, to #8.
Looking at the profile of Milwaukee’s accomplishments so far, their net rating (3rd when adjusted for strength of schedule) is what sticks out to me the most. In fact, that’s an area where the Bucks will actually take a hit at the end of this season, because they’ve had a relatively underwhelming net rating this time around.

9. Los Angeles Lakers, 1962-1973

Head Coach: Fred Schaus, Butch van Breda Kolff, Joe Mullaney, Bill Sharman
Key Players: Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich, Rudy LaRusso, Happy Hairston, Dick Barnett, Jim McMillian, Archie Clark
Dynastender Rankings: 1st in Seasons (12), 4th in Points (23.19), 17th-18th in adjusted Championships (0.75), 1st in adjusted Finals appearances (5.7), 21st in win% (.626), 18th in playoff win% (.552), 19th in adjusted Net Rating (+3.1), 7th in Top 5 aNR (+5.5)
Avg z-score: -0.04
The Lakers of Jerry West’s time represented a kind of dynasty of second-place finishes. Their nine Finals appearances in the 12-year run is incredible, although it’s adjusted down to 5.7 because of the number of teams in the league when they were accomplished.
These Lakers’ ability to contend for a long period of time is impressive, and if I did these rankings by Points alone, they’d be at #4 among Dynastenders on that strength. Weak regular seasons, though, prevent them from reaching thoe heights in my more complicated system.

8. Boston Celtics, 2008-2012

Head Coach: Doc Rivers
Key Players: Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo
Dynastender Rankings: 9th-16th in Seasons (5), 10th-11th in Points (18), 8th-13th in adjusted Championships (1), 9th-10th in adjusted Finals appearances (2), 5th in win% (.693), 15th in playoff win% (.581), 4th in adjusted Net Rating (+6.0), 3rd in Top 5 aNR (+6.0)
Avg z-score: -0.03
Known as a major step forward into the “superteam” era, the Big Three Celtics hit the ground running, posting their best season by far (67 wins and a title) in their first season together. As such, they’re the only NBA Dynastender to win a title in the first season of their run. Perhaps, that might be what contributes to this squad’s legacy; most teams have to build for a couple of years but the Big Three Celtics hit the ground running and made an immediate impression.
They had a chance to make a Dynasty out of it, but a Garnett injury hampered their chances in ‘09, and they couldn't pull out a Game 7 against the Lakers in ‘10. Great regular seasons propel the team into the top-10 Dynastenders, although the short length of the run and underwhelming playoff results limit how high they could rise.

7. Detroit Pistons, 2002-2008

Head Coach: Rick Carlisle, Larry Brown, Flip Saunders
Key Players: Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, Jon Barry
Dynastender Rankings: 4th in Seasons (7), 3rd in Points (25), 14th in adjusted Championships (0.98), 11th in adjusted Finals appearances (1.98), 12th in win% (.669), 16th in playoff win% (.579), 10th in adjusted Net Rating (+4.8), 6th in Top 5 aNR (+5.7)
Avg z-score: 0.00
What really carries this Pistons team is their Point total, which is buoyed both by their longevity (7 seasons is a fairly good length for a run) and the streak of six straight conference finals appearances for which they are somewhat famous. Six straight three-point seasons (in the Dynasty Point system) has only been equalled by the Jazz (six straight), Russell Celtics (eight straight), and the Showtime Lakers (ten straight), so it’s a very impressive feat that’s worthy of putting the ‘00s Pistons in this kind of tier.
Because of how many deep runs the Pistons made, it’s not that hard to imagine a couple years going differently resulting in a Dynasty; like ‘05 (losing in Game 7 of the Finals), or ‘06/’08 (two six-game losses to the eventual champions).
Somewhat surprisingly, they don’t rank very highly in playoff win percentage, due to the fact that they won some surprisingly close series (like TOR ‘02, ORL ‘03, CLE ‘06) and lost a couple of lopsided ones (BOS ‘02, NJ ‘03).

6. Detroit Pistons, 1987-1991

Head Coach: Chuck Daly
Key Players: Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas, Adrian Dantley
Dynastender Rankings: 9th-16th in Seasons (5), 5th in Points (21.68), 4th in adjusted Championships (1.86), 6th in adjusted Finals appearances (2.74), 11th in win% (.678), 3rd in playoff win% (.678), 9th in adjusted Net Rating (+4.9), 12th in Top 5 aNR (+4.9)
Avg z-score: 0.13
The second straight Pistons team on the list is the closest Dynastender to being on the Dynasty list. The ‘88 Finals ended with two very close games (that weren’t without controversy either), both of which could have won the Pistons the championship. Had they done so, and still won the next two, they would get the requisite three titles (in six or fewer seasons) for the Dynasty label. However, this team fails to resemble Dynasties in both number of championships and in length; every post-merger Dynasty lasted at least nine seasons by mysystem, where Detroit lasted only five. The Pistons got their two titles, got eclipsed by the Bulls, and disappeared.
Playoff success carries this run, as the Bad Boys nearly had as good of a win percentage in the second season as in the first. Unlike their ‘00s successors, they dominated series, winning 9 series by three games or more in this Dynastender run, losing only once by such a margin.

5. Dallas Mavericks, 2001-2011

Head Coach: Don Nelson, Avery Johnson, Rick Carlisle
Key Players: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Steve Nash, Michael Finley, Erick Dampier, Josh Howard, Jason Kidd, Shawn Bradley, Tyson Chandler, Antawn Jamison
Dynastender Rankings: 2nd in Seasons (11), 2nd in Points (27), 8th-13th in adjusted Championships (1), 9th-10th in adjusted Finals appearances (2), 8th in win% (.687), 22nd in playoff win% (.512), 7th in adjusted Net Rating (+5.4), 2nd in Top 5 aNR (+7.0)
Avg z-score: 0.19
The Mavericks’ relative absence from the later rounds of the playoffs might have made you think that the 2011 team was a one-year wonder. However, that’s not the case. It was a year that topped off what was a very impressive run of success up to that point, at least in the regular season.
Every season in this run, Dallas had a record good enough to earn them points for my system (a 50-win pace). That’s 11 straight seasons, a very impressive feat that’s only been bettered by the Showtime Lakers, the Russell Celtics, and the Duncan Spurs. Dirk and co. were consistently good year in and year out, which is the driving force behind them making the top 5 of the Dynastender list.
Of course, what came between the Mavs and the very top of this list (or even a part of the Dynasty list) is a lack of playoff success. The playoff record (65-62) sticks out like a sore thumb, an atrocious 22nd out of 23 qualifying Dynastenders. The biggest symbol of said disappointment is the infamous series they lost to the 8-seed Warriors in 2007, following a 67-win regular season that featured an MVP from Nowitzki.
A disparity between regular season and playoff success that’s this large is really astounding, and the large sample calls into question the conventional analytic wisdom that the playoffs are basically just a noise-fest. Here are some highlights (or lowlights), as not everyone might know/remember much about Dallas’ playoff journey (I know I didn’t before researching):

• 2001: The Mavs overcome a big deficit at Utah in a decisive Game 5, but get destroyed by San Antonio in Round 2.
• 2002: A sweep against Minnesota, but a 5-game loss against the memorable ‘02 Kings team (including an OT Game 4 loss)
• 2003: Dirk gets injured during the WCF, and the Mavericks lose to the Spurs (although they benefitted from a Chris Weber injury the round before).
• 2004: Another loss to the Kings, this time in Round 1. Dallas misses two opportunities at the end of one-possession Games 4 and 5 to end the series.
• 2005: A comeback from a 2-0 deficit against McGrady and Yao’s Rockets, followed by an OT Game 6 loss at home to Phoenix to end the season (a Steve Nash three ties it with 6 seconds left, followed by a near-miss from Stackhouse at the buzzer).
• 2006: This run is fairly well-known, so I’ll ignore it.
• 2007: This one’s also pretty well-documented. It’ll also make you cry if you think about it enough.
• 2008: A convincing loss against Chris Paul and the Hornets in the first round.
• 2009: An impressive five-game win against the Spurs, followed by a five-game loss to Carmelo and the Nuggets, with three double-digit road losses and two close home games that the teams split (including a Carmelo game-winner after an uncalled intentional foul)
• 2010: Yet another series against the Spurs (the fifth in ten years); this one a 4-2 win for San Antonio as the 7-seed.

Dallas entered 2011 having lost in the first round three times in four years, and this long stretch of playoff failure made their great championship run all the sweeter.

4. Los Angeles Lakers, 2008-2012

Head Coach: Phil Jackson, Mike Brown
Key Players: Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum
Dynastender Rankings: 9th-16th in Seasons (5), 6th-7th in Points (21), 1st-2nd in adjusted Championships (2), 5th in adjusted Finals appearances (3), 4th in win% (.703), 8th in playoff win% (.618), 5th in adjusted Net Rating (+5.8), 4th in Top 5 aNR (+5.8)
Avg z-score: 0.21
Fittingly, the Celtics and Lakers had Dynastenders spanning the exact same five seasons. The Lakers’ version gets the nod both because they won the 2010 matchup, and because the Lakers had more consistent postseason success, winning 62% of their playoff games (and making three Finals) to the Celtics’ 58% (and two).
There might be some quibbles about this run not being connected to the Shaqobe era, but the consensus seems to be in separating the two, and my system concurs (the ‘05-07 run of seasons is enough disappointment to put the kibosh on the initial Dynasty).

3. Philadelphia 76ers, 1977-1986

Head Coach: Gene Shue, Billy Cunningham, Matt Guokas
Key Players: Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, Steve Mix, Charles Barkley, George McGinnis, Doug Collins
Dynastender Rankings: 3rd in Seasons (10), 1st in Points (30), 15th in adjusted Championships (0.88), 4th in adjusted Finals appearances (3.46), 10th in win% (.683), 9th in playoff win% (.603), 13th in adjusted Net Rating (+4.3), 5th in Top 5 aNR (+5.8)
Avg z-score: 0.28
Moses Malone’s “Fo Fo” Sixers only won one championship, but they had an extended period of relevance of which it was a part. In ten seasons, they made it to four NBA Finals and seven conference finals, only losing in the first round once. They also won 50 games in all but one season, the 47-win ‘79. In total, their 560 wins in these ten seasons ranked first in the league, with only two other teams (BOS 539, LAL 552) even getting to 500.
This team might slip through the cracks a bit, because apart from their one title, they’re often remembered in the contexts of their losses; they lost to Bill Walton’s Blazers, they lost to Magic’s iconic Game 6 performance, and they lost the 3-1 lead against the ‘81 Celtics. These Sixers had the definite potential for a Dynasty if a couple of these (or other) losses went the other way.
My Point system loves this team’s longevity and consistency, as can be seen from their top rank in that category. They only end up outside of the top spot on this list because there’s two other teams who were particularly excellent over smaller periods of time.

2. Milwaukee Bucks, 1970-1974

Head Coach: Larry Costello
Key Players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Dandridge, Oscar Robertson, Jon McGlocklin, Lucius Allen, Flynn Robinson
Dynastender Rankings: 9th-16th in Seasons (5), 14th in Points (15.66), 17th-18th in adjusted Championships (0.75), 17th in adjusted Finals appearances (1.51), 1st in win% (.741), 7th in playoff win% (.632), 1st in adjusted Net Rating (+7.6), 1st in Top 5 aNR (+7.6)
Avg z-score: 0.31
Of the teams you were anticipating on this list, the ‘70s Bucks might not have been one of them. They were from the “dark ages” of the ‘70s that everybody forgets about. There’s a chance that you knew they had a great ‘71 season, but not much else.
However, these Bucks had a heck of a run. They hit the ground running their first season without Kareem, immediately winning 56 games, losing in the Division Finals. Then followed one of the greatest seasons of all time, where they posted a net-rating record that wouldn’t be broken for 21 years (and their aNR still hasn’t been beaten by a non-Dynasty), and dominated the postseason to boot. ‘72 was the Lakers’ year, but the Bucks were still nothing to sneeze at; 63 wins and a second-straight double-digit net rating (only the ‘15-17 Warriors and ‘96-97 Bulls can boast the same). Not only that, but they actually outscored the Lakers in their playoff series that year! ‘73 saw a disappointing first-round upset loss to Golden State (in which the Bucks also scored more points), but after a third-straight 60-win season (another feat only Dynasties share). Finally, the Bucks narrowly missed what would have been the NBA’s only four-season streak of 60+ wins (they won 59), and an iconic Kareem shot forced a seventh NBA Finals game which they ended up losing.
I was originally as puzzled by the Bucks’ high ranking as you all might have been, but actually going back and breaking down all of their seasons has sold me on them. 304 regular-season wins over a five-year period is incredible, and they were just a few playoff games away from a Dynasty that would’ve potentially been remembered among the best.

1. Miami Heat, 2011-2014

Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra
Key Players: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
Dynastender Rankings: 17th-20th in Seasons (4), 6th-7th in Points (21), 1st-2nd in adjusted Championships (2), 2nd-3rd in adjusted Finals appearances (3.46), 3rd in win% (.718), 2nd in playoff win% (.678), 2nd in adjusted Net Rating (+6.4), 9th in Top 5 aNR (+5.1)
Avg z-score: 0.38
While this team isn’t the closest on this list to being a Dynasty (the Pistons are), in some ways they might be the team that feels like a dynasty the most, or that most had the aura that many dynasties share.
From the moment Miami’s Big 3 was official, everyone knew it was the Heat against the world. LeBron infamously made a tongue-in-cheek allusion to a mega-dynasty, and it was up to everyone else to try to stop it. The fact that this run has an air of disappointment about its final results, despite four Finals and two rings in four tries, is almost the biggest testament there is. Out of 16 playoff series, they only lost twice to two very good teams, but it’s still not quite good enough, precisely because this team was so good that perfection was their standard.
The Heat are a good example of the upside of my final ranking system, and its general favoritism towards short but great runs. Now that I’m looking at the list, it would feel a little wrong for the Heat to be 6th-7th, and not even make the top 5 Dynastenders, as would be the case if I went on Points alone. Yes, they only lasted for four years, but the way they defined the NBA for that stretch goes beyond most other Dynastenders.
We could, perhaps, touch on how much of a footnote 2012 should be, where there could be some arguments back and forth. On the one hand, I don’t really believe in footnotes based on shortened regular-seasons (at least in the NBA’s cases, where we were still left with decent regular seasons that were >half of a normal one), and also history bore out that Derrick Rose getting injured was more of a norm than an exception. On the other hand, the ECF we got was pretty close, which could lead one to wonder whether Chicago with home court could have tipped the balance in the other direction.

While the Bruins are chasing history vis a vis the all time win and point records for a season, both of those records are easier to break in the post-lockout era. When games tied after regulation award three points and still necessitate a winner, it creates more opportunities both for points and for wins.
A way to be fair to older teams, I think, would be to make a adjustment that counts ties as half a win (as the NFL does, and as the points system was originally designed to do) when looking at all-time win comparisons. Using win percentage also helps control for the fact that there weren't always 82 games in a season (although win percentages will be noisier and less impressive when we're only dealing with 50 games or so).
So, without further ado here's what we get when we rank win percentage all-time, but ties count as half a win (and half a loss). Credit to Hockey Reference for the raw data I used.

Year	Team	W	L	WPct.
1930	Boston Bruins	38.5	5.5	0.875
1944	Montreal Canadiens	41.5	8.5	0.830
1977	Montreal Canadiens	66	14	0.825
1978	Montreal Canadiens	64.5	15.5	0.806
1945	Montreal Canadiens	40	10	0.800
1996	Detroit Red Wings	65.5	16.5	0.799
1976	Montreal Canadiens	63.5	16.5	0.794
1971	Boston Bruins	60.5	17.5	0.776
2023	Boston Bruins	58	17	0.773
1939	Boston Bruins	37	11	0.771
1973	Montreal Canadiens	60	18	0.769
1972	Boston Bruins	59.5	18.5	0.763
2019	Tampa Bay Lightning	62	20	0.756
2013	Chicago Blackhawks	36	12	0.750
2013	Pittsburgh Penguins	36	12	0.750
1986	Edmonton Oilers	59.5	20.5	0.744
1984	Edmonton Oilers	59.5	20.5	0.744
1982	New York Islanders	59	21	0.738
1976	Philadelphia Flyers	59	21	0.738
1989	Calgary Flames	58.5	21.5	0.731
1995	Detroit Red Wings	35	13	0.729
1927	Ottawa Senators	32	12	0.727
1979	New York Islanders	58	22	0.725
1980	Philadelphia Flyers	58	22	0.725
1974	Boston Bruins	56.5	21.5	0.724

The 1920 Ottawa Senators (19 wins out of 24) would technically make this leaderboard and be ahead of the 2023 Bruins, but I couldn't include them with a straight face. Hence the caveat on the title
If you just took raw win percentage, the current Bruins' 0.773 would be second behind the '30 Bruins, but counting ties as half a win to help even the playing field brings them to ninth. The Lightning's 62 wins can be beaten (and the Bruins are on pace to do so), but the most the Bruins can get to is 65 wins, which would fall short of the '96 Red Wings and '77 Canadiens with this adjustment. FiveThirtyEight currently gives the Bruins a combined 477% chance of winning their last seven games, which would total a 0.765 win percentage for the season, 11th on the list (although, of course, they can't actually win 4.77 games).
If you modify this list so that the post-lockout teams also get credit for a half-win for every game that tied after regulation (instead of either 1 or 0 wins depending on how OT/SO played out), this is an abbreviated version of what it would look like:

Year	Team	W	L	WPct.
pre-LO	11 teams
2023	Boston Bruins	56	17	0.747
pre-LO	16 teams
2006	Detroit Red Wings	58.5	23.5	0.713
pre-LO	8 teams
2019	Tampa Bay Lightning	57.5	24.5	0.701
pre-LO	4 teams
2013	Pittsburgh Penguins	33.5	14.5	0.698
pre-LO	3 teams	33.5	14.5	0.698
2021	Colorado Avalanche	39	17	0.696
pre-LO	6 teams
2013	Chicago Blackhawks	33	15	0.6875
pre-LO	4 teams	55	25	0.6875

The Bruins fall to twelfth and the Lightning to 38th, because we're dampening their OT/SO performances (9-5 and 13-4 respectively) by counting everything 50/50. The '21 Avs and '06 Wings jump onto the list (since they both beat the '13 Hawks, my barrier of entry), as both of them had weak enough records beyond regulation to dilute their win percentage from being on the first list.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Division: AFC North Record: 9-8 (3-3 Division), 3rd place AFC North Playoffs: Never rely on Joe Flacco to get you in.
First, thanks to u/ehhhhhhhhhhmacarena for letting me sub in on this for the 2nd time in three years. Maybe next year we'll get it right the first time. 😘 LINK TO HUB
General Season Review
The 2022 Steelers season was seen largely as a rebuilding year. No Ben. TJ missing a lot of time. OL not really a work of art. Offensively there are only 3 starters on their 2nd contracts, so the team is very young there. The Front seven on defense was/is severely lacking depth behind TJ, Cam, and Highsmith. The DBs outside of Minkah and Edmunds were largely unknowns, gambles, or value signings. Nothing about this team screamed “playoff chances until the last second of the season”. But that’s exactly how it went. They were alive until the clock struck zero on Jets-Dolphins in Week 18.
Mitchell Trubisky won the starting QB job out of camp, and as the veteran with the most starting experience on the roster, that makes sense. He was the safe choice. The staff has seen what they get with Mason. KP was a rook and you don’t want to shellshock him too soon. But you know what you get with a QB like Mitch. An uninspired offense that doesn’t move the ball quickly at all. Once KP arrived at half in Week 4 vs the Jets, the team was his. Sure the box score doesn’t look all that different. But if you have a choice between a vet who doesn’t do much, and a rookie who at least looks the same and improving? Take the upside.
KP improved every week and limited his mistakes. He ended up taking more control of the offense and had 4 fourth quarter comebacks/game winning drives, in weeks 9, 11, 15, and 16. Talk about improvement.
But the team still started 2-6. Finished 7-3 to go 9-8. Missed the playoffs. Nobody is “happy” with missing the playoffs or a barely .500 season, but given the situation, it wasn’t a bad season. Lots to love about this year. Some nice role players stuck out, the stars did what they do, and the franchise’s future showed lots of good things.
Draft, Free Agency, and Trades:
Draft: (I get into most of these guys in the roster breakdown later on)

• Round 1, Pick 20 overall: Kenneth Shane Pickett, QB, Pitt: AKA “Kenny Fucking Pickett” AKA “THE PICKLER” AKA “BIG KEN” AKA “DADDY”.
  
• Round 2, Pick 52 overall: George Pickens, WR, Georgia: “He’s a quality young man.” – Mike Tomlin
  
• Round 3, Pick 84 overall: DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
  
• Round 4, Pick 138 overall: Calvin Austin III, being fast, Memphis
  
• Round 6, Pick 208 overall: Connor Heyward, TE, Mich. St.
  
• Round 6, Pick 198: Mark Robinson, ILB, Ole Miss
  
• Round 7, Pick 232: Chris Oladokun, QB, South Dakota St.
  

Free Agency:

• James Daniels, RG, Bears: $26.5mm/3 yrs, $8.75mm gtd
  
• Myles Jack, LB, Jags: $16mm/2 yrs, $6.5mm gtd
  
• Gunner Olszewski, RS, Patriots: $4.2mm/2 yrs, $1.6mm gtd
  
• Levi Wallace, CB, Bills: $8mm/2 yrs, $2.97mm gtd
  
• Mason Cole, C, Vikes: $15.75mm/3 yrs, $4.57mm gtd
  
• Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Bills: $14.29mm/2 yrs, $5.25mm gtd (up to $27m total w/ incentives)
  

Midseason Trade:

• August 30, 2022: Traded a conditional 2025 pick (7th round) to Vikings for OT, Jesse Davis
  
• August 30, 2022: Traded a 2023 6th round pick to Broncos for OLB, Malik Reed and a 2023 7th round pick
  
• November 1, 2022: Traded Chase Claypool to Bears for a 2023 2nd round pick (32nd overall, thanks Stephen Ross). 🚨YINZER DANCE PARTY🚨
  
• November 1, 2022: Traded a conditional 2025 pick (6th round) to Commanders for William Jackson III and a conditional 2025 pick (7th round).
  

* no conditions satisfied with WJ3 hitting IR like 2 weeks after arriving, Washington basically flew him to the Steelers.
Stats: per pfr and football outsiders

Offensive Stats:

Stat	Value	Per Game	Lg. Rank
Total Yds	5484	322.58	26th
1st Downs	345	20.29	15th
Total Passing Yds	3411	200.64	24th
Total Rush Yds	2073	121.94	16th
Pts Scored	308	18.12 (ouch)	26th
TDs Scored (Pass)	28 (12)	1.64 (.71)	29th 🥲
Turnovers (INTs)	19 (14)	1.11 (.82)	4th (17th)
DVOA	-0.3%	n/a	18th
DVOA after BYE	6.6%	n/a	10th

Defensive Stats:

Stat	Value	Per Game	Lg. Rank
Yds Allowed	5617	330.41	13th
1st Downs	314	18.47	5th
Total Passing Yds	3779	222.29	19th
Total Rush Yds	1838	108.12	9th
Pts Scored	346	20.35	10th
Turnovers (INTs)	23 (20)	1.35 (1.18)	14th (1st)
DVOA	-3.5%	n/a	12th
DVOA after BYE	-14.6%	n/a	4th

Weekly Game Review:
Week 1, @ Bengos: WHAT A WIN. WHAT A WIN. Okay, so I was at this game (6-0 all time baybayyyy) and felt gross after. An injured long snapper being the difference maker is crazy. Oh and Minkah going completely fucking super saiyan on the kitties from Eastern Kentucky Ohio. 14 tackles. 10 solo. 1 INT/TD. AND A BLOCKED XP TO SEND IT TO OVERTIME. Boy went crazy. Mike T started the game by stuffing everyones lockers with blacked out Air Force 1s, and Minkah brought that energy. Ja’Marr Chase felt it too when he gave Mink the bird and got 15 yards for it hahahahahahahahahaha.
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Side note: Cincy fans, your city is known for its god awful chili/meat sauce/who cares what it's called. But PBS serves the fucking Walmart brand of it in stadium?? What up w that??
Week 2, vs. Patriots: First week of seven without TJ 🥲. Bill Belichick activated sleeper agent Gunner O to fumble that punt in the third quarter and then the Patriots scored.
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Week 3, @ Brownies: Jacoby “Brisket” Brissett sliced and diced the defense to hand the Steelers this L. Best Browns QB on the roster, hands down.
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Week 4, vs. Jets: Distractions from WRs who weren’t getting the ball and QBs fucking moms should distract the Jets and allow the Steelers defense to take over and win this one pretty handily right? Nope. Wanna know why?
Because:
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Subbed at half. ITS TIME FOR THE PICKLER TO SHINE. No? Maybe next week in Buffalo.
Week 5, @ Bills: Ron Howard: “He did not shine in Buffalo the next week.”
Week 6, vs. Bucs: Kenny got slapped in the head and left the game in the 3rd. But guess what?? MITCH TRUBISKY DOESN’T SUCK AT FOOTBALL AND HE BEAT TOM BRADY AND THE BUCS.
Week 7, @ Fins: This SNF game was honestly not bad despite the box score. Despite the L there was a lot of positive to take from Kenny and his growth, which is what mattered most this year.
Week 8, @ Eagles: I don’t wanna talk about it.
Week 9, @ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex: This is around the time the reports that KP8 had an “office” at the team facility to grind extra tape. Turns out it’s just a desk in the team room. Sorry Russ haters, not today.
LIVE IMAGE OF KENNY WORKING IN HIS OFFICE
Week 10, vs. Saints: Ho hum. Steelers beating Andy Dalton. What’s new? TJ back after missing weeks 2-8 and healthy-ish. Najee finally gets kickin and the offense with it. Not a world beater, but better all around.
Week 11, vs. Bengals: 🚨🚨 30 POINT OFFENSIVE EFFORT ALERT 🚨🚨 Buuuuuuuut the Bengos transformed to the Dark Bengos over their bye and Dark Bengo must have his sacrifice. Top 5 Uni matchup on the year too hands down. Maybebe ever.
White^inbred Bengo vs Blacked Out Block Letters. Chefs Kiss.
Week 12, @ Colts: Steelers love beating the Colts. I don’t know what it is about them, but there’s blood in the water. My logic is Indiana is next to Ohio. Steelers hate and historically own Ohio teams. Indy by nature of being near Ohio is basically Ohio. So, the team just treats them like they do any other Ohio team.
Week 13, @ Falcons: The coolest part of this game was the similarities of Connor Heywards first NFL touchdown and his father’s first NFL receiving TD.
Week 14, vs. Ravens: KP got hurt on like the 8th play of the game bc he came down with whatever disability Tua has that doesn’t allow them to properly go down when being tackled. I don’t know if it’s the body weight sack rules, QBs not knowing how to fall, or the spinning twist tackles, something’s gotta change.
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Week 15, @ Panthers: This was a win but it certainly wasn’t because Mitch Trubisky is *good* at football. The Panthers had 21 rushing yards. Even for pass heavy teams that’s bad. So when The Darnold is your QB, you’re gonna suffer.
I mean uhhh the RIGGED NFL STOLE this game from the GEQBUS.
Week 16, vs. Raiders: A lot of us Steelers fans were nervous for this game. The Raiders have been a thorn in Coach Ts side for years. He was 2-5 entering this game against them. But we weren’t gonna let that ruin the Immaculate Reception 50th anniversary game, especially after Franco passed. And in 1972 football fashion, the Steelers won a 13-10 barn burner on a TD pass from KP to GP with :46 on the clock. And then Cam Sutton made that diving INT to seal the deal. Merry Christmas Yinz.
Week 17, @ Ravens: Naj delivers his first 100 yard performance of the year. TJ Watt says this is the first time all year he’s been injury free. Mitch Trubisky is not allowed to suck at football. Life is good.
Week 18, vs. Browns: All the team had to do is win against a division opponent, and pray to god the Bills don’t phone it in against the Patriots. Oh and rely on Joe Flacco to beat the Fins. Never rely on flacco for anything.
Overall Record: 9-8
High Points:

• Week One was a great surprise after the Bengals trounced the Steelers for all of 2021.
  
• Kenny’s weekly improvements, especially after the bye.
  
• George Pickens.
  
• Every time Minkah did something batshit insane on the field.
  
• The Immaculate Reception game was a great Christmas gift.
  

Low Points

• Every snap of Mitchell Trubisky playing football minus the Buccaneers game.
  
• Losing to the Zach Wilson led Jets.
  
• ILB play all season was a nothing burger.
  
• Chris Boswell’s Groin 2: Electric Boogaloo (sequel to the 2018 original).
  

Low Points for Yinzers

• Every day that Mike Tomlin and Matt Canada aren’t fired by the Stillers.
  
• Any time they think about drafting Najee and Friermuth over Creed Humphrey and Landon Dickerson.
  
• Every day before November 1, 2022.
  
• Any time they think about the Jags loss in the divisional round in 2017.
  
• Any time Jaylen Warren didn’t get 20 carries if Najee was having a bad game.
  

High Points for Yinzers

• November 1, 2022.

Overall Roster Review:

All-Pros:

• Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, (1st Team): I don’t think I need to say anything here. Dudes a fucking baller. We love him here.
  
• Cam Heyward was snubbed of 2nd team All-Pro. Even Cam himself doesnt understand the criteria.
  

Pro Bowl Selections:

• TJ (lol) and Minkah

Position Group Reviews:

QB: This is why everyone is here. To read about Mitchell Trubisky. Who sucks at football. He is the definition of a “he can change for me” signing. Uninspiring, not the reason those Bears teams won, and definitely the reason some of these games were lost this year.
But the real real reason we all are here. Kenny Fucking Pickett. The box score is not favorable here. But look a little deeper. 2nd best deep ball passer this year!! Crazy. Watch the games. Watch him progress each game. Not making the same mistake twice. 11 turnovers in his first 5 games. 2 in his last 8 games, which came after the bye. Boy was IN THE LAB. Three 4th quarter comebacks and 4 game winning drives. He may not be on the same trajectory of that young class of elite game changing QBs like Mahomes, Burrow, or Allen. But he good. Oh he goooood. And that flow?? Nothing can stop THE PICKLER.
RB: Naj started the year slow and never really kicked off in a major way. He had a Lisfranc injury from camp that had him wearing a metal plate in his foot until Week 6. But he was still solid on a relatively mediocre offense.
The real story of this group is Jaylen Warren. UDFA from Ok. St. Had to compete with 3 other RBs in camp who all had been on the roster the previous year. Coach T likes to say “2 dogs, 1 bone.” Well Jaylen is the dog with that bone in his mou--- actually not gonna finish that one.
WR: Yinzers will focus on the fact that Diontae Johnson had 86 catches and no TDs. Which is objectively bad. But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater on DJ. Pretty much every route he ran was a sideline route, comeback, curl, or something else that yields little to no YAC. He yet again had a great year separating from DBs better than anyone in the NFL. He also continues to show that he never really earned the name Diontae Dropson with his 4.8% drop rate which ranks 75th highest among pass catchers in the nfl.
Pickens just made highlight after highlight this year. He’s a freak. But he suffered from a somewhat limited route tree this year same as Diontae.
Steven Sims was a nice surprise out of camp this year too. Reliable returner mostly, solid in the slot. Carved out a nice role in the offense for himself.
Everyone else here was a body (Boykin, Cody White, Gunner) or injured (Calvin Austin III).
TE: Muth is about as reliable as it gets. Best YAC on the team at the moment. Fights for yards. Had a solid year and looks to continue his growth in year 3.
Zach Gentry was just a body in his first two years in Pittsburgh. Albeit he’s just a 6’8” 270 lb body. But the last two years he’s been a reliable and improved blocker, as well as a solid 15-20 catch type of target. Not gonna light it up, but definitely worth a roster spot.
Connor Heyward was not drafted because he’s Cam’s brother! He’s a solid H-Back type that was used in a lot of different ways this year. Really big fan. He may never be a top end player, but has long time beloved role player written all over him.
OT: Chuks Okorafor continues to be underrated. He plays the less glorified OT spot and isn’t a top 5 in the league, so he must be trash right? Nope. Dude is solid. Worth the extension last spring/summer.
Dan Moore Jr. (DMJ) in year two was about the same as year 1. A big bodied, athletic, raw, and not great LT. He’s gonna get a third year to start, maybe with a camp competition body. Yinzers are sick of him and want a high profile turnstile like Orlando Brown Jr. to replace him. I say wait for year 3.
The Orlando Brown joke was written before the Bengos signed him and I think that it's even funnier now hahaha
iOL: James Daniels was the big signing of the year for the Steelers, and despite a rough start he was really solid. Definitely the best OL of the year for the team, but nobody was exceptional.
Mason Cole's signing inspired none but he played a little better than expected. Tomlin really seems to like him and his communication skills. I think the value he brings may just be stuff us fans don’t see or know since we don’t know the calls.
Kevin Dotson, a fan favorite in the past, lost a lot of fans this year. The left side of the OL was pretty bad overall but there are some who think DMJ may improve with a better running mate at LG. KDot had a good to great rookie year. Oft injured in year 2 and down year 3. He’s probably on his last legs here if something doesn’t change in 2023.
DL: Cam is great and aging like a fine wine, I don’t need to really expand on that.
The rest of the group was interesting to watch. Ogunjobi was nice, especially as a late June add to the roster. I hope he can re-sign in Pittsburgh.
DeMarvin Leal was a tweener coming out of the draft and it showed in his usage. Only ticked up after TJs injury and shuffling of the DL. He was IR’ed for a bit and never really topped 25% snaps in a game but once maybe. He’ll be an interesting developmental piece to watch in 2023.
The rest of the guys did their jobs. Alualu was benched in favor of Montravius Adams. Chris Wormley has been a good rotational guy. Isaiahh Loudermilk made little to no noise this year after a decent rookie year in 2021.
OLB: Everyone likely wants to hear about TJ, but Alex Highsmith gets the first mention here. TJ being out for like half the season called for Highsmith to step up. And he did. 14.5 sacks. A true breakout year and silencing the yinzers who say “just plug anyone opposite TJ and they’ll eat”. He’s in a contract year in 2023 and deserves to be paid. Alex Highsmith was an absolute baller in 2022 and deserves his respect.
TJ was banged up and made didn’t make too much noise this year.
God dammit they need a third EDGE guy to spell TJ/Alex. It’s a bunch of JAGs in that room behind them.
ILB: Speaking of JAGs. Nobody here impressed. People will tell you Mark Robinson made a splash in the Ravens game, to which I respond that he played 26 snaps that game. The ILB group was so mediocre this year I’m not going to expand on any individual past that bit above. Big draft/FA need. Maybe 2x.
CB: Cam Sutton 🥲 was given the outside CB job full time this year basically. And he thriiiived. After being a role player for most of his career thus far, he bet on himself, and is now paid in Detroit. He got to watch Joe Haden play outside for a few seasons and I really think that Steelers era Joe is a good comp for Sutton. Smart, tackles well, versatile. Enjoy him Lions fans.
The rest of the group did well enough I guess. Levi was a solid inside outside guy and took the bulk of the CB2 snaps. A bargain at $4m/year. Thanks Commies for really screwing up Buffalo’s plans there. Ahkello Witherspoon greatly cooled down from his 3 INTs in the last 5 games of 2021. He got some time outside and wasn’t great. Not the worst CB in Tomlin’s tenure, definitely not the best.
I also want to take a side note on Arthur Maulet. He’s not a great NCB. But he brings a lot of energy and fire to this team. He apparently got in some peoples faces in the locker room after a 2022 loss that I refuse to talk about. He really seems to value that accountability and brings a level of leadership that is good on an otherwise young team. He’dnever get a mention otherwise, but I think he deserves some love for what he brings.
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Terrell Edmunds continues to show he is Mr. Consistent. He wears a lot of hats for the defense, is always available, and largely a mistake free player. Yinzers still hate him because he’s a first rounder that isn’t an all-pro, but if every first rounder was at least an available, consistent, career starter, most teams would be fucking loaded.
Damontae Kazee is that third safety Mike Tomlin has been searching for the last few years. Tre Norwood looked like he may be it last year, but Kazee beat him out for the job. He’s a human missile. A violent player. And a full, healthy season ahead should do him well amongst the fans.
2023 Draft Picks:

• Round 1, Pick 17 overall
  
• Round 2, Pick 32 overall (From CHI)
  
• Round 2, Pick 49 overall
  
• Round 3, Pick 80 overall
  
• Round 4, Pick 120 overall
  
• Round 7, Pick 236 overall
  
• Round 7, Pick 243 overall (From DEN)
  
• 2023 Cap Space: **$13,952,485 as of posting date*** ^per otc
  

Free Agency/Draft Needs:

• Front Seven needs depth and starters outside of like 3 or 4 guys. So, starting ILB, EDGE3 to spell TJ/Highsmith, and DL/DT since the DL is old with no standout youngsters on the roster.
  
• One starting caliber CB, probably/maybe 2.
  
• OL depth, potential starters. Mostly LG, maybe C. Yinzers will tell you the OTs are dogshit but they’re more mid than they are bad.
  
• WR. Always.
  

Key Free Agents:

Preface: I’m not making predictions on contracts because that’s a useless practice. I know fuck all about what’s going on behind closed doors of NFL offices, so who cares about contract predictions.

Offense:

Oddly, None? I guess Mason Rudolph but HE GONE.

Defense:

• Cameron Sutton, CB: As of writing this, he’s already gone. Thanks Detroit. But I wanted to include his name, because I think highly of him and don’t want to minimize his importance. A good player, maybe never an All-Pro, but a long time starter at the position. We watched him grow from a wee little 3rd rounder just growin’ and learnin’.
  
• Larry Ogunjobi, DL: A must sign in my opinion. Good depth, Cam is not any younger. Add another DE in the draft and the DL is gonna be nice in ’23. HE STAY
  
• Devin Bush, ILB: He gone.
  
• Terrell Edmunds, S: Another must sign. He does too much for this defense to let him walk. 🥲
  
• Chris Wormley, DL: Solid depth. Came from an inter-division trade. Tomlin told him “that shows what they think of you” and he’s been a pretty damn good depth/rotational piece ever since. Would like to have him back, especially with Alualu likely being toast.
  
• Damontae Kazee, S: I think he just needs to come back and play a full season in that 3rd safety role. A full season of expanding on what we saw the last few weeks of the year would be cool and add some wrinkles to this defense. HE STAY
  

Potential Cap Casualties, Retirements

Offense:

• Mitchell Trubisky, QB: Dude sucks at football. But if he’s cut there’s Kenny and a bunch of dudes who know nothing about this offense. Yes it would save like $8mm but Kenny and a bunch of bodies behind him isn’t ideal. Unlikely.
  
• Gunner Olszewski, RS: Saves only $2mm, but Sims replaced him as a RS. Calvin Austin III should slide into that slot role once healthy. Seems like a mid-summer dump if they draft another WR, which they always do.
  

Defense:

• William Jackson III, CB: Been cut. Saved $12mm. Maybe he’ll be back after testing the waters. Who knows, but he’s such an unknown at this point it doesn’t make a difference.
  
• Myles Jack, ILB: Saves $8mm but leaves Mark Robinson, a rawwww 2ndyear, and Robert Spillane, professional JAG. I think an extension is more likely than a cut. Jack did lead the team in tackles. But nothing exceptional beyond that.
  
• Ahkello Witherspoon, CB: Saves $4mm. He’s a CB3 at best, not really in consideration for the starting spot. Probably survives any cuts til the draft just to be safe.
  
• Tyson Alualu, DT: Probably retiring right? Reneged on a deal with the Jags to stay in Pittsburgh. Hurt. Benched. Free Agent. I just don’t see him signing another contract.
  

Coaching Staff/Front Office review

• Kevin Colbert, GM: KC finished out DRAFT SZN with a bang. Drafted the QB. Got ANOTHER addition to Kevin Colbert’s School of Wide Receivers Who Wide Receive Good. Started a family reunion with the Heywards. A classic Kevin Colbert Draft Special. God Bless that man and all he did for 22 great years of Steelers football.
  
• Omar Khan, GM: Dude got to WORK right away. Active during free agency? Never heard of her. Signed Levi Wallace. Got the DJ deal done. Minkah deal done. Snagged Larry O after he “failed his physical” whatever that means just take the L Bears haha. James Daniels at RG. Boy slinging that money around like it’s not his and it’s on fire. I think all of Steelers fans (Yinzers included) are excited to see what he and Weidl’s approach to FA and the draft is going to be like. More of the same? Same same but different? Who knows, who cares. Let's have fun with it while it’s new.
  
• Mike Tomlin, HC: “Hey Coach T. You’re gonna lose your HOF QB. And your HOF pace OLB is gonna miss 7 games. And you’ll trade away your WR2 by Halloween. Your OL is gonna be shit the first 6 weeks of the season. Your WR1 won’t score a TD all year. Your RB1 is gonna have an injury that kills careers in camp. Don’t do too much winning okay?”
  

\ * Tomlin *: “Haha fuck it we ball.”

• Matt Canada, OC: There are not many kind things to say about his offense. Route concepts are bad. Play diversity is bad. Playcall sequencing seems bad. But a top 10 DVOA offense the last 9 weeks of the season? He at least earned a chance to play out his contract.
  
• Teryl Austin, DC: His first year as DC but 4th overall with the team. The defense clearly suffered without TJ for 7 weeks, but overall they were a good unit on the year. Sutton played well and earned his Detroit contract. Minkah is a baller. Levi Wallace is great value. The DBs overall really are just so much better than they’ve been since like 2011-2017 and Teryl Austin deserves a nod for that alone.
  

Final Thoughts

Draft and free agency are looming. It’s exciting. New GM/AGM, new QB. Tomlin does what he does. There’s a lot of things to be excited about as a Steeler’s fan for the foreseeable future.
Kenny is the focus of the team now. Everything done should be done in furtherance of his development as the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise QB. Better Defense to support him on his bad days. Better OL to keep him upright. Better skill guys to make his life easier. It’s all for him. As it should be. If he’s right, the teams right.
HERE WE GO STEELERS

Pittsburgh Steelers

Division: AFC North Record: 9-8 (3-3 Division), 3rd place AFC North Playoffs: Never rely on Joe Flacco to get you in.
First, thanks to u/ehhhhhhhhhhmacarena for letting me sub in on this for the 2nd time in three years. Maybe next year we'll get it right the first time. 😘 LINK TO HUB
General Season Review
The 2022 Steelers season was seen largely as a rebuilding year. No Ben. TJ missing a lot of time. OL not really a work of art. Offensively there are only 3 starters on their 2nd contracts, so the team is very young there. The Front seven on defense was/is severely lacking depth behind TJ, Cam, and Highsmith. The DBs outside of Minkah and Edmunds were largely unknowns, gambles, or value signings. Nothing about this team screamed “playoff chances until the last second of the season”. But that’s exactly how it went. They were alive until the clock struck zero on Jets-Dolphins in Week 18.
Mitchell Trubisky won the starting QB job out of camp, and as the veteran with the most starting experience on the roster, that makes sense. He was the safe choice. The staff has seen what they get with Mason. KP was a rook and you don’t want to shellshock him too soon. But you know what you get with a QB like Mitch. An uninspired offense that doesn’t move the ball quickly at all. Once KP arrived at half in Week 4 vs the Jets, the team was his. Sure the box score doesn’t look all that different. But if you have a choice between a vet who doesn’t do much, and a rookie who at least looks the same and improving? Take the upside.
KP improved every week and limited his mistakes. He ended up taking more control of the offense and had 4 fourth quarter comebacks/game winning drives, in weeks 9, 11, 15, and 16. Talk about improvement.
But the team still started 2-6. Finished 7-3 to go 9-8. Missed the playoffs. Nobody is “happy” with missing the playoffs or a barely .500 season, but given the situation, it wasn’t a bad season. Lots to love about this year. Some nice role players stuck out, the stars did what they do, and the franchise’s future showed lots of good things.
Draft, Free Agency, and Trades:
Draft: (I get into most of these guys in the roster breakdown later on)

• Round 1, Pick 20 overall: Kenneth Shane Pickett, QB, Pitt: AKA “Kenny Fucking Pickett” AKA “THE PICKLER” AKA “BIG KEN” AKA “DADDY”.
  
• Round 2, Pick 52 overall: George Pickens, WR, Georgia: “He’s a quality young man.” – Mike Tomlin
  
• Round 3, Pick 84 overall: DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
  
• Round 4, Pick 138 overall: Calvin Austin III, being fast, Memphis
  
• Round 6, Pick 208 overall: Connor Heyward, TE, Mich. St.
  
• Round 6, Pick 198: Mark Robinson, ILB, Ole Miss
  
• Round 7, Pick 232: Chris Oladokun, QB, South Dakota St.
  

Free Agency:

• James Daniels, RG, Bears: $26.5mm/3 yrs, $8.75mm gtd
  
• Myles Jack, LB, Jags: $16mm/2 yrs, $6.5mm gtd
  
• Gunner Olszewski, RS, Patriots: $4.2mm/2 yrs, $1.6mm gtd
  
• Levi Wallace, CB, Bills: $8mm/2 yrs, $2.97mm gtd
  
• Mason Cole, C, Vikes: $15.75mm/3 yrs, $4.57mm gtd
  
• Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Bills: $14.29mm/2 yrs, $5.25mm gtd (up to $27m total w/ incentives)
  

Midseason Trade:

• August 30, 2022: Traded a conditional 2025 pick (7th round) to Vikings for OT, Jesse Davis
  
• August 30, 2022: Traded a 2023 6th round pick to Broncos for OLB, Malik Reed and a 2023 7th round pick
  
• November 1, 2022: Traded Chase Claypool to Bears for a 2023 2nd round pick (32nd overall, thanks Stephen Ross). 🚨YINZER DANCE PARTY🚨
  
• November 1, 2022: Traded a conditional 2025 pick (6th round) to Commanders for William Jackson III and a conditional 2025 pick (7th round).
  

* no conditions satisfied with WJ3 hitting IR like 2 weeks after arriving, Washington basically flew him to the Steelers.
Stats: per pfr and football outsiders

Offensive Stats:

Stat	Value	Per Game	Lg. Rank
Total Yds	5484	322.58	26th
1st Downs	345	20.29	15th
Total Passing Yds	3411	200.64	24th
Total Rush Yds	2073	121.94	16th
Pts Scored	308	18.12 (ouch)	26th
TDs Scored (Pass)	28 (12)	1.64 (.71)	29th 🥲
Turnovers (INTs)	19 (14)	1.11 (.82)	4th (17th)
DVOA	-0.3%	n/a	18th
DVOA after BYE	6.6%	n/a	10th

Defensive Stats:

Stat	Value	Per Game	Lg. Rank
Yds Allowed	5617	330.41	13th
1st Downs	314	18.47	5th
Total Passing Yds	3779	222.29	19th
Total Rush Yds	1838	108.12	9th
Pts Scored	346	20.35	10th
Turnovers (INTs)	23 (20)	1.35 (1.18)	14th (1st)
DVOA	-3.5%	n/a	12th
DVOA after BYE	-14.6%	n/a	4th

Weekly Game Review:
Week 1, @ Bengos: WHAT A WIN. WHAT A WIN. Okay, so I was at this game (6-0 all time baybayyyy) and felt gross after. An injured long snapper being the difference maker is crazy. Oh and Minkah going completely fucking super saiyan on the kitties from Eastern Kentucky Ohio. 14 tackles. 10 solo. 1 INT/TD. AND A BLOCKED XP TO SEND IT TO OVERTIME. Boy went crazy. Mike T started the game by stuffing everyones lockers with blacked out Air Force 1s, and Minkah brought that energy. Ja’Marr Chase felt it too when he gave Mink the bird and got 15 yards for it hahahahahahahahahaha.
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Side note: Cincy fans, your city is known for its god awful chili/meat sauce/who cares what it's called. But PBS serves the fucking Walmart brand of it in stadium?? What up w that??
Week 2, vs. Patriots: First week of seven without TJ 🥲. Bill Belichick activated sleeper agent Gunner O to fumble that punt in the third quarter and then the Patriots scored.
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Week 3, @ Brownies: Jacoby “Brisket” Brissett sliced and diced the defense to hand the Steelers this L. Best Browns QB on the roster, hands down.
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Week 4, vs. Jets: Distractions from WRs who weren’t getting the ball and QBs fucking moms should distract the Jets and allow the Steelers defense to take over and win this one pretty handily right? Nope. Wanna know why?
Because:
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Subbed at half. ITS TIME FOR THE PICKLER TO SHINE. No? Maybe next week in Buffalo.
Week 5, @ Bills: Ron Howard: “He did not shine in Buffalo the next week.”
Week 6, vs. Bucs: Kenny got slapped in the head and left the game in the 3rd. But guess what?? MITCH TRUBISKY DOESN’T SUCK AT FOOTBALL AND HE BEAT TOM BRADY AND THE BUCS.
Week 7, @ Fins: This SNF game was honestly not bad despite the box score. Despite the L there was a lot of positive to take from Kenny and his growth, which is what mattered most this year.
Week 8, @ Eagles: I don’t wanna talk about it.
Week 9, @ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex: This is around the time the reports that KP8 had an “office” at the team facility to grind extra tape. Turns out it’s just a desk in the team room. Sorry Russ haters, not today.
LIVE IMAGE OF KENNY WORKING IN HIS OFFICE
Week 10, vs. Saints: Ho hum. Steelers beating Andy Dalton. What’s new? TJ back after missing weeks 2-8 and healthy-ish. Najee finally gets kickin and the offense with it. Not a world beater, but better all around.
Week 11, vs. Bengals: 🚨🚨 30 POINT OFFENSIVE EFFORT ALERT 🚨🚨 Buuuuuuuut the Bengos transformed to the Dark Bengos over their bye and Dark Bengo must have his sacrifice. Top 5 Uni matchup on the year too hands down. Maybebe ever.
White^inbred Bengo vs Blacked Out Block Letters. Chefs Kiss.
Week 12, @ Colts: Steelers love beating the Colts. I don’t know what it is about them, but there’s blood in the water. My logic is Indiana is next to Ohio. Steelers hate and historically own Ohio teams. Indy by nature of being near Ohio is basically Ohio. So, the team just treats them like they do any other Ohio team.
Week 13, @ Falcons: The coolest part of this game was the similarities of Connor Heywards first NFL touchdown and his father’s first NFL receiving TD.
Week 14, vs. Ravens: KP got hurt on like the 8th play of the game bc he came down with whatever disability Tua has that doesn’t allow them to properly go down when being tackled. I don’t know if it’s the body weight sack rules, QBs not knowing how to fall, or the spinning twist tackles, something’s gotta change.
Mitch Trubisky sucks at football.
Week 15, @ Panthers: This was a win but it certainly wasn’t because Mitch Trubisky is *good* at football. The Panthers had 21 rushing yards. Even for pass heavy teams that’s bad. So when The Darnold is your QB, you’re gonna suffer.
I mean uhhh the RIGGED NFL STOLE this game from the GEQBUS.
Week 16, vs. Raiders: A lot of us Steelers fans were nervous for this game. The Raiders have been a thorn in Coach Ts side for years. He was 2-5 entering this game against them. But we weren’t gonna let that ruin the Immaculate Reception 50th anniversary game, especially after Franco passed. And in 1972 football fashion, the Steelers won a 13-10 barn burner on a TD pass from KP to GP with :46 on the clock. And then Cam Sutton made that diving INT to seal the deal. Merry Christmas Yinz.
Week 17, @ Ravens: Naj delivers his first 100 yard performance of the year. TJ Watt says this is the first time all year he’s been injury free. Mitch Trubisky is not allowed to suck at football. Life is good.
Week 18, vs. Browns: All the team had to do is win against a division opponent, and pray to god the Bills don’t phone it in against the Patriots. Oh and rely on Joe Flacco to beat the Fins. Never rely on flacco for anything.
Overall Record: 9-8
High Points:

• Week One was a great surprise after the Bengals trounced the Steelers for all of 2021.
  
• Kenny’s weekly improvements, especially after the bye.
  
• George Pickens.
  
• Every time Minkah did something batshit insane on the field.
  
• The Immaculate Reception game was a great Christmas gift.
  

Low Points

• Every snap of Mitchell Trubisky playing football minus the Buccaneers game.
  
• Losing to the Zach Wilson led Jets.
  
• ILB play all season was a nothing burger.
  
• Chris Boswell’s Groin 2: Electric Boogaloo (sequel to the 2018 original).
  

Low Points for Yinzers

• Every day that Mike Tomlin and Matt Canada aren’t fired by the Stillers.
  
• Any time they think about drafting Najee and Friermuth over Creed Humphrey and Landon Dickerson.
  
• Every day before November 1, 2023.
  
• Any time they think about the Jags loss in the divisional round in 2017.
  
• Any time Jaylen Warren didn’t get 20 carries if Najee was having a bad game.
  

High Points for Yinzers

• November 1, 2023.

Overall Roster Review:

All-Pros:

• Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, (1st Team): I don’t think I need to say anything here. Dudes a fucking baller. We love him here.
  
• Cam Heyward was snubbed of 2nd team All-Pro. Even Cam himself doesnt understand the criteria.
  

Pro Bowl Selections:

• TJ (lol) and Minkah

Position Group Reviews:

QB: This is why everyone is here. To read about Mitchell Trubisky. Who sucks at football. He is the definition of a “he can change for me” signing. Uninspiring, not the reason those Bears teams won, and definitely the reason some of these games were lost this year.
But the real real reason we all are here. Kenny Fucking Pickett. The box score is not favorable here. But look a little deeper. 2nd best deep ball passer this year!! Crazy. Watch the games. Watch him progress each game. Not making the same mistake twice. 11 turnovers in his first 5 games. 2 in his last 8 games, which came after the bye. Boy was IN THE LAB. Three 4th quarter comebacks and 4 game winning drives. He may not be on the same trajectory of that young class of elite game changing QBs like Mahomes, Burrow, or Allen. But he good. Oh he goooood. And that flow?? Nothing can stop THE PICKLER.
RB: Naj started the year slow and never really kicked off in a major way. He had a Lisfranc injury from camp that had him wearing a metal plate in his foot until Week 6. But he was still solid on a relatively mediocre offense.
The real story of this group is Jaylen Warren. UDFA from Ok. St. Had to compete with 3 other RBs in camp who all had been on the roster the previous year. Coach T likes to say “2 dogs, 1 bone.” Well Jaylen is the dog with that bone in his mou--- actually not gonna finish that one.
WR: Yinzers will focus on the fact that Diontae Johnson had 86 catches and no TDs. Which is objectively bad. But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater on DJ. Pretty much every route he ran was a sideline route, comeback, curl, or something else that yields little to no YAC. He yet again had a great year separating from DBs better than anyone in the NFL. He also continues to show that he never really earned the name Diontae Dropson with his 4.8% drop rate which ranks 75th highest among pass catchers in the nfl.
Pickens just made highlight after highlight this year. He’s a freak. But he suffered from a somewhat limited route tree this year same as Diontae.
Steven Sims was a nice surprise out of camp this year too. Reliable returner mostly, solid in the slot. Carved out a nice role in the offense for himself.
Everyone else here was a body (Boykin, Cody White, Gunner) or injured (Calvin Austin III).
TE: Muth is about as reliable as it gets. Best YAC on the team at the moment. Fights for yards. Had a solid year and looks to continue his growth in year 3.
Zach Gentry was just a body in his first two years in Pittsburgh. Albeit he’s just a 6’8” 270 lb body. But the last two years he’s been a reliable and improved blocker, as well as a solid 15-20 catch type of target. Not gonna light it up, but definitely worth a roster spot.
Connor Heyward was not drafted because he’s Cam’s brother! He’s a solid H-Back type that was used in a lot of different ways this year. Really big fan. He may never be a top end player, but has long time beloved role player written all over him.
OT: Chuks Okorafor continues to be underrated. He plays the less glorified OT spot and isn’t a top 5 in the league, so he must be trash right? Nope. Dude is solid. Worth the extension last spring/summer.
Dan Moore Jr. (DMJ) in year two was about the same as year 1. A big bodied, athletic, raw, and not great LT. He’s gonna get a third year to start, maybe with a camp competition body. Yinzers are sick of him and want a high profile turnstile like Orlando Brown Jr. to replace him. I say wait for year 3.
The Orlando Brown joke was written before the Bengos signed him and I think that it's even funnier now hahaha
iOL: James Daniels was the big signing of the year for the Steelers, and despite a rough start he was really solid. Definitely the best OL of the year for the team, but nobody was exceptional.
Mason Cole's signing inspired none but he played a little better than expected. Tomlin really seems to like him and his communication skills. I think the value he brings may just be stuff us fans don’t see or know since we don’t know the calls.
Kevin Dotson, a fan favorite in the past, lost a lot of fans this year. The left side of the OL was pretty bad overall but there are some who think DMJ may improve with a better running mate at LG. KDot had a good to great rookie year. Oft injured in year 2 and down year 3. He’s probably on his last legs here if something doesn’t change in 2023.
DL: Cam is great and aging like a fine wine, I don’t need to really expand on that.
The rest of the group was interesting to watch. Ogunjobi was nice, especially as a late June add to the roster. I hope he can re-sign in Pittsburgh.
DeMarvin Leal was a tweener coming out of the draft and it showed in his usage. Only ticked up after TJs injury and shuffling of the DL. He was IR’ed for a bit and never really topped 25% snaps in a game but once maybe. He’ll be an interesting developmental piece to watch in 2023.
The rest of the guys did their jobs. Alualu was benched in favor of Montravius Adams. Chris Wormley has been a good rotational guy. Isaiahh Loudermilk made little to no noise this year after a decent rookie year in 2021.
OLB: Everyone likely wants to hear about TJ, but Alex Highsmith gets the first mention here. TJ being out for like half the season called for Highsmith to step up. And he did. 14.5 sacks. A true breakout year and silencing the yinzers who say “just plug anyone opposite TJ and they’ll eat”. He’s in a contract year in 2023 and deserves to be paid. Alex Highsmith was an absolute baller in 2022 and deserves his respect.
TJ was banged up and made didn’t make too much noise this year.
God dammit they need a third EDGE guy to spell TJ/Alex. It’s a bunch of JAGs in that room behind them.
ILB: Speaking of JAGs. Nobody here impressed. People will tell you Mark Robinson made a splash in the Ravens game, to which I respond that he played 26 snaps that game. The ILB group was so mediocre this year I’m not going to expand on any individual past that bit above. Big draft/FA need. Maybe 2x.
CB: Cam Sutton 🥲 was given the outside CB job full time this year basically. And he thriiiived. After being a role player for most of his career thus far, he bet on himself, and is now paid in Detroit. He got to watch Joe Haden play outside for a few seasons and I really think that Steelers era Joe is a good comp for Sutton. Smart, tackles well, versatile. Enjoy him Lions fans.
The rest of the group did well enough I guess. Levi was a solid inside outside guy and took the bulk of the CB2 snaps. A bargain at $4m/year. Thanks Commies for really screwing up Buffalo’s plans there. Ahkello Witherspoon greatly cooled down from his 3 INTs in the last 5 games of 2021. He got some time outside and wasn’t great. Not the worst CB in Tomlin’s tenure, definitely not the best.
I also want to take a side note on Arthur Maulet. He’s not a great NCB. But he brings a lot of energy and fire to this team. He apparently got in some peoples faces in the locker room after a 2022 loss that I refuse to talk about. He really seems to value that accountability and brings a level of leadership that is good on an otherwise young team. He’dnever get a mention otherwise, but I think he deserves some love for what he brings.
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Terrell Edmunds continues to show he is Mr. Consistent. He wears a lot of hats for the defense, is always available, and largely a mistake free player. Yinzers still hate him because he’s a first rounder that isn’t an all-pro, but if every first rounder was at least an available, consistent, career starter, most teams would be fucking loaded.
Damontae Kazee is that third safety Mike Tomlin has been searching for the last few years. Tre Norwood looked like he may be it last year, but Kazee beat him out for the job. He’s a human missile. A violent player. And a full, healthy season ahead should do him well amongst the fans.
2023 Draft Picks:

• Round 1, Pick 17 overall
  
• Round 2, Pick 32 overall (From CHI)
  
• Round 2, Pick 49 overall
  
• Round 3, Pick 80 overall
  
• Round 4, Pick 120 overall
  
• Round 7, Pick 236 overall
  
• Round 7, Pick 243 overall (From DEN)
  
• 2023 Cap Space: **$13,952,485 as of posting date*** ^per otc
  

Free Agency/Draft Needs:

• Front Seven needs depth and starters outside of like 3 or 4 guys. So, starting ILB, EDGE3 to spell TJ/Highsmith, and DL/DT since the DL is old with no standout youngsters on the roster.
  
• One starting caliber CB, probably/maybe 2.
  
• OL depth, potential starters. Mostly LG, maybe C. Yinzers will tell you the OTs are dogshit but they’re more mid than they are bad.
  
• WR. Always.
  

Key Free Agents:

Preface: I’m not making predictions on contracts because that’s a useless practice. I know fuck all about what’s going on behind closed doors of NFL offices, so who cares about contract predictions.

Offense:

Oddly, None? I guess Mason Rudolph but HE GONE.

Defense:

• Cameron Sutton, CB: As of writing this, he’s already gone. Thanks Detroit. But I wanted to include his name, because I think highly of him and don’t want to minimize his importance. A good player, maybe never an All-Pro, but a long time starter at the position. We watched him grow from a wee little 3rd rounder just growin’ and learnin’.
  
• Larry Ogunjobi, DL: A must sign in my opinion. Good depth, Cam is not any younger. Add another DE in the draft and the DL is gonna be nice in ’23. >
• Devin Bush, ILB: He gone.
  
• Terrell Edmunds, S: Another must sign. He does too much for this defense to let him walk. 🥲
  
• Chris Wormley, DL: Solid depth. Came from an inter-division trade. Tomlin told him “that shows what they think of you” and he’s been a pretty damn good depth/rotational piece ever since. Would like to have him back, especially with Alualu likely being toast.
  
• Damontae Kazee, S: I think he just needs to come back and play a full season in that 3rd safety role. A full season of expanding on what we saw the last few weeks of the year would be cool and add some wrinkles to this defense. >

Potential Cap Casualties, Retirements

Offense:

• Mitchell Trubisky, QB: Dude sucks at football. But if he’s cut there’s Kenny and a bunch of dudes who know nothing about this offense. Yes it would save like $8mm but Kenny and a bunch of bodies behind him isn’t ideal. Unlikely.
  
• Gunner Olszewski, RS: Saves only $2mm, but Sims replaced him as a RS. Calvin Austin III should slide into that slot role once healthy. Seems like a mid-summer dump if they draft another WR, which they always do.
  

Defense:

• William Jackson III, CB: Been cut. Saved $12mm. Maybe he’ll be back after testing the waters. Who knows, but he’s such an unknown at this point it doesn’t make a difference.
  
• Myles Jack, ILB: Saves $8mm but leaves Mark Robinson, a rawwww 2ndyear, and Robert Spillane, professional JAG. I think an extension is more likely than a cut. Jack did lead the team in tackles. But nothing exceptional beyond that.
  
• Ahkello Witherspoon, CB: Saves $4mm. He’s a CB3 at best, not really in consideration for the starting spot. Probably survives any cuts til the draft just to be safe.
  
• Tyson Alualu, DT: Probably retiring right? Reneged on a deal with the Jags to stay in Pittsburgh. Hurt. Benched. Free Agent. I just don’t see him signing another contract.
  

Coaching Staff/Front Office review

• Kevin Colbert, GM: KC finished out DRAFT SZN with a bang. Drafted the QB. Got ANOTHER addition to Kevin Colbert’s School of Wide Receivers Who Wide Receive Good. Started a family reunion with the Heywards. A classic Kevin Colbert Draft Special. God Bless that man and all he did for 22 great years of Steelers football.
  
• Omar Khan, GM: Dude got to WORK right away. Active during free agency? Never heard of her. Signed Levi Wallace. Got the DJ deal done. Minkah deal done. Snagged Larry O after he “failed his physical” whatever that means just take the L Bears haha. James Daniels at RG. Boy slinging that money around like it’s not his and it’s on fire. I think all of Steelers fans (Yinzers included) are excited to see what he and Weidl’s approach to FA and the draft is going to be like. More of the same? Same same but different? Who knows, who cares. Let's have fun with it while it’s new.
  
• Mike Tomlin, HC: “Hey Coach T. You’re gonna lose your HOF QB. And your HOF pace OLB is gonna miss 7 games. And you’ll trade away your WR2 by Halloween. Your OL is gonna be shit the first 6 weeks of the season. Your WR1 won’t score a TD all year. Your RB1 is gonna have an injury that kills careers in camp. Don’t do too much winning okay?”
  

\ * Tomlin *: “Haha fuck it we ball.”

• Matt Canada, OC: There are not many kind things to say about his offense. Route concepts are bad. Play diversity is bad. Playcall sequencing seems bad. But a top 10 DVOA offense the last 9 weeks of the season? He at least earned a chance to play out his contract.
  
• Teryl Austin, DC: His first year as DC but 4th overall with the team. The defense clearly suffered without TJ for 7 weeks, but overall they were a good unit on the year. Sutton played well and earned his Detroit contract. Minkah is a baller. Levi Wallace is great value. The DBs overall really are just so much better than they’ve been since like 2011-2017 and Teryl Austin deserves a nod for that alone.
  

Final Thoughts

Draft and free agency are looming. It’s exciting. New GM/AGM, new QB. Tomlin does what he does. There’s a lot of things to be excited about as a Steeler’s fan for the foreseeable future.
Kenny is the focus of the team now. Everything done should be done in furtherance of his development as the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise QB. Better Defense to support him on his bad days. Better OL to keep him upright. Better skill guys to make his life easier. It’s all for him. As it should be. If he’s right, the teams right.
HERE WE GO STEELERS

[Part 1- Passing Game] <--- You are here
[Part 2- Rushing and Special Teams]
[Part 3- Defense and Non-QB Offense]
[Part 4- QBs and Team Quadrant Charts]
​
​
It's that time of year when the vast majority of us start to hit those sweet copium reserves once again. I thought I'd put something together so that people can at least have the choice of making data-driven arguments before just resorting to name calling and downvoting anyways.
Most of the data that was used was from the regular season, but I used regular season+playoffs anywhere I could find it. Z-Scores are all measured against the average of ALL NFL Teams. Restricted the plots to playoff teams because I already spent two three weeks of lunch-breaks just for these 14 teams. Z-Scores exclusively use team/positional group data (this also applies to QB groups) due to the complicating fact that individual world-class athletes are also humans with sensory organs and brains that process all of the horrible things people say about them online. If you're looking to dunk on specific players, this isn't really the right data to do so.
Receivers include any WTE/RB with at least 48 targets (criteria used by 538/ESPN). Tried to account for QBs as much as possible so that each QB group's impact can be estimated later on.
Credit to u/dvd5671 for the idea to use team logos as data points.
​
​
All receiver z-scores are QB-Compensated by ESPN Analytics
​
https://preview.redd.it/v0evcykptnia1.jpg?width=1366&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9d2123b904414097573b190e2556802c86bc8f7
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https://preview.redd.it/6e33rb8qtnia1.jpg?width=1366&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b29d213ea65ebb1ca119fbe2dbd76609e3d558cd
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https://preview.redd.it/aahuslxqtnia1.jpg?width=1366&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6adebb2de0349ee4a5796af57fc22793985e25f3
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Pass protection z-scores derived from [Pocket Time / Pressure Rate]
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https://preview.redd.it/tmxnebvrtnia1.jpg?width=1366&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca281c30aa4d451c65a6fe2e84aa4bcf44960a7b
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https://preview.redd.it/xvv5qu6stnia1.jpg?width=1366&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=25234e0b95f1f6ac237d2afc6cb3594c777d4404
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Non-QB pass game z-score = .5*[Pass Pro] + .5*[Rec Score (Overall)]
​
​

Data	Source	Link
QB-Comp Rec (Overall), QB-Comp Rec (Open), QB-Comp Rec (Catch), QB-Comp Rec (YAC)	fivethirtyeight (ESPN Analytics)	Link
Pass Attempts (Team) *Used in the background of this analysis. Used outright in subsequent analyses.	NFL Stats	Link
Pocket Time, Pressure Rate	Pro Football Reference	Link

​

Hi Statheads!
Inspired by the creators nflscrapR and nflfastR I decided to construct nflscraPy, a collection of functions to scrape NFL Data from Pro Football Reference – and hopefully an expanding number of data sources/sets.
As of now you can use nflscraPy to ingest:

• Season Scores
• Metadata
• Basic Statistics
• Expected Points
• Scoring Events
• Active Roster
• Snap Counts & Pcts
• Season Splits
• Historic ELO data via FiveThirtyEight

To be respectful of PFR’s servers and for those not yet comfortable with Python, Historic CSV Datasets for these categories can be downloaded in the releases – updated weekly.
Feel free to message me or comment any questions or feedback you have regarding nflscraPy – I would also love to hear what other PFR datasets you might be interested in and see if I can add them to the functionality mix.

I posted this Monday prior to BUF-CIN and have now updated the sheet with all the scenarios for the AFC, including potential outcomes for BUF vs. CIN (Bills win, Bengals win, no contest/tie).
There are also tabs with win probabilities from fivethirtyeight.com to find the "most likely" scenarios.
To make filters, hit "data," "filter views," and "create new temporary filter view."
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KTUZlPXhhth0rJYQQhrxGbfEwAfq8SLLwAgECQW3KGI/edit#gid=1605084409

	Team	SN	Y!	B/R	CBS	USA	NFL	ESPN		Avg	SD	538	CGPR
1	Kansas City	1	4		2	2		1		2.0	1.2	1	5
2	Buffalo	3	3		1	4		2		2.6	1.1	2	1
3	San Francisco	2	2		3	3		3		2.6	0.5	5	3
4	Philadelphia	4	1		4	5		5		3.8	1.6	3	6
5	Cincinnati	6	6		5	1		6		4.8	2.2	6	2
6	Dallas	5	5		6	6		4		5.2	0.8	4	4
7	LA Chargers	7	8		8	8		7		7.6	0.5	9	11
8	Minnesota	8	7		7	10		8		8.0	1.2	7	9
9	Baltimore	10	11		9	9		10		9.8	0.8	8	8
10	Jacksonville	11	9		11	7		11		9.8	1.8	10	10
11	NY Giants	9	13		10	12		9		10.6	1.8	13	14
12	Detroit	13	12		15	11		13		12.8	1.5	14	7
13	Green Bay	14	10		16	13		12		13.0	2.2	12	12
14	Miami	17	15		12	17		15		15.2	2.0	16	22
15	New England	16	14		18	14		14		15.2	1.8	15	17
16	Tampa Bay	12	18		14	16		17		15.4	2.4	11	16
17	Pittsburgh	18	16		17	15		16		16.4	1.1	17	13
18	Seattle	15	17		13	20		18		16.6	2.7	18	19
19	Tennessee	22	19		20	23		19		20.6	1.8	19	27
20	New Orleans	19	23		22	19		22		21.0	1.9	21	18
21	Cleveland	20	21		23	22		20		21.2	1.3	20	15
22	Washington	21	22		19	24		21		21.4	1.8	24	21
23	NY Jets	23	20		21	21		23		21.6	1.3	26	24
24	Carolina	25	25		24	18		24		23.2	2.9	22	20
25	Las Vegas	24	24		25	26		25		24.8	0.8	25	23
26	Atlanta	26	26		26	27		26		26.2	0.4	31	26
27	LA Rams	27	27		29	25		27		27.0	1.4	23	25
28	Arizona	30	29		27	31		29		29.2	1.5	30	29
29	Denver	28	28		30	30		30		29.2	1.1	28	28
30	Chicago	31	30		31	28		28		29.6	1.5	29	32
31	Indianapolis	29	31		28	29		31		29.6	1.3	27	30
32	Houston	32	32		32	32		32		32.0	0.0	32	31

SN
Y!
[B/R]( )
CBS
USA
[NFL]( )
ESPN
538
[]( )
CGPR

Seen this discussed a few times and believe we can source the correct answer.
Quick context: seen a lot of discussions about how Slayton has been great at creating separation this year. Most of these reference the new advanced stat “Open score” where Slayton was near the top at one point (now around 30th) source:
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/nfl-receiver-rankings/
However, this seems to take into account scheming/routes as well? When digging into finding actual yards of separation, most sites keep that behind the paywall, but I was able to find big blue view referencing this around the time he was near the top of the “open score” :
“He still isn’t a great separating receiver and his 2.3 yards of separation is still the seventh-worst in the NFL. However, the combination of route selection and route design has helped Slayton get the second-highest “Open” score in ESPN’s new Receiver Tracking Metric.”
Source : https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2022/11/23/23473869/2022-ny-giants-wr-darius-slayton-open-separation-route-running-brian-daboll-mike-kafka
TLDR: does anyone have access to TGT Sep (target separation) for our receiving core? Not just the “open score” which seems to take into account other metrics.

I did this for the Chiefs last year so thought I'd do it for the rest of the NFL this year. NFC is completely filled out and ready; AFC has some filled out and will be completed after the Bengals vs. Bills Week 17 game on MNF.
To make filters, hit "data," "filter views," and "create new temporary filter view." Personally, I prefer downloading as an excel sheet and using it that way, but to each their own.
There are also tabs with win probabilities from fivethirtyeight.com to find the "most likely" scenarios. H/T to u/mtkaiser for showing me how to do that last year.
Enjoy! Let me know if anything looks off or incorrect.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KTUZlPXhhth0rJYQQhrxGbfEwAfq8SLLwAgECQW3KGI/edit#gid=683893993

According to 538's Elo ratings, the Bengals currently sit at 1669, fourth in the league and just three points shy of the high water mark of 1672 set in 2015 following our 8-0 start. Looking at typical gains for individual wins, we would surely surpass that mark if we defeat Buffalo next Monday. My guess is a win over Baltimore would do the trick even following a loss to Buffalo, but it would depend on point differentials.
For reference, the ratings are calibrated such that an average NFL team has a rating of 1500. An expansion team is default-set to 1300, and the best teams of all time hang out in the high 1700s. Home field advantage is worth about 65 Elo points.
The Bengals' all-time low point was week 11 in 1999. We were rated an embarrassing 1239. Prior to the Marvin Lewis era, our highest rating was 1666 following our victory over San Diego in the Freezer Bowl, just before losing Super Bowl XVI to the 49ers.
Elo rewards short-term success and medium-term consistency, as it is a constantly updating baseline that changes weekly due to wins and losses, margin of victory, and strength of opponent. It is far from a deep-dive into predictive quality, but it's about as good an objective benchmark as there is publicly available, completely free from the stain of personal bias.
So what does this mean? It means that right now is about as good a time as there's ever been to be a Bengals fan. WHO DEY!