(06-02-2023, 10:17 AM)Caldrac Wrote:

(06-02-2023, 09:31 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote: I'm pumping the brakes just a bit. The record the last half of the season was much better as I more or less predicted going into the year. Getting Doug's system in place and the young guys learning how to win took a few months as expected. However, the play on the field still wasn't as good as it needs to be to live up to some of the hype we're seeing. They still lost to bad teams last year and that's a concern until they show that the end of year streak wasn't a fluke. The tittians game in particular showed a team with grit, but the offense wasn't good and the defense was outright bad against a team they should've blown out. I don't think this team is bad, or even average for that matter, they are going to be good. I just think they still have a ways to go this year to be in the discussion against the Big 3. TLaw's play in those games showed growth but also head room to go up more. If Ridley is what we hope I think this conversation next offseason is legitimately about playing in the Super Bowl and then the Hype Train can leave the station for real.

I agree with this. Last year was a pleasant surprise after a rough start. Doug kept throwing the term out there year round. "Complimentary Football". I would say after that loss to Denver and that big loss to Detroit the team started to shift towards the right direction. There was a lot of luck here and there but this team made it's own luck at the end of the day. To some an extent, what we saw out of Lawrence was luck being willed through skill and natural talent. There's just things that kid did last year over and over again that we were lucky to see over the years here and there in spurts. 

The complimentary aspect was very real last year though. Offense would do it's job, then falter. Defense would do it's job, then it would falter. But, then? In a few big games they matched each other or had each other's backs and it resulted in one hell of a run. Probably my favorite franchise run since 1996. And I think that's where some fans are excited because it seems like we could be headed for that nice little, three to four year stretch of play-off runs or more potentially with Trevor and Doug joined at the hip. 

I think they'll manage to win a minimum of 10 games this year. Which is a game better than last year. I also think they'll win the AFC South and it may not come down to a dramatic must win situation like it did last year to seal the deal. It's a start. 2024 and beyond though is where the expectations should potentially be off the charts.

My only addition to this is for the hype train to be off the charts in '24 we will have to be coming off a post season win against the Bills, Bengals or Chiefs (or one or more of those teams shows significant regression this year).  If we are put down early in the post season by one of those teams, what's the difference next year from right now?  And if we do expect to beat one or more of those teams in the playoffs this season, just go ahead and get on the hype train now my man.  

"The train is leaving the station.  Run.  Get on it."  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D53M1vVF2N4

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