Would getting the 2nd seed actually be benificial?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Last year was definitely the team best equipped to pull off a road run. This one would be close IF the defense gets their feet back underneath them on a level comparable to 2023.

But that team was built to win anywhere. Not pretty, but they could pack that defense up and a solid playoff ground game wherever they went.

that team could generate pressure with the blitz because it had Sneed and Watson taking the snaps that Conner and Johnson are taking now.

That's a MASSIVE step down.

I have a hard time seeing this defense getting anywhere near that level. The offense MUST step up. And frankly, the steps taken by the front-office this year seemed to be designed for exactly that.

But with the loss of Rice and Brown, not to mention Pacheco and the continued decline of Kelce, we're just struggling there.

But the idea of leaning into the defense to win a championship is pretty much a non-starter for me. I just don't see that happening this time around. The talent simply isn't there in the defensive secondary and it's lacking to the point that it's directly impacting the pass rush as well.

This defense is going to have to play soft and hope for some breaks. Penalties, poor execution, etc... It can't dictate terms like it did last season. So the offense will have to be the tip of the spear, IMO.