Does Preseason Matter?

Every sports analyst wants to tell you that preseason doesn't matter. Let's look at some numbers.

Year	Preseason	Regular Season	Season Result
2006	0 - 4	8 - 8	missed playoffs
2005	3 - 1	11 - 5	Won Super Bowl XL
2004	2 - 2	15 - 1	Lost AFC Championship
2003	1 - 3	6 - 10	missed playoffs
2002	2 - 2	10 - 5 - 1	Lost AFC Divisional
2001	3 - 1	13 - 3	Lost AFC Championship
2000	3 - 2	9 - 7	missed playoffs
1999	1 - 3	6 - 10	missed playoffs
1998	3 - 2	7 - 9	missed playoffs
1997	5 - 0	11 - 5	Lost AFC Championship

So what can be concluded? In the 5 seasons where the Steelers have had a winning record in the preseason, they have had a winning regular season 4 times. Additionally, when the Steelers have had a losing record in the preseason, they have followed up with a losing record in the regular season. The Steelers have also had winning seasons in the two seasons they were .500 in the preseason.

So does preseason matter? As much as the media would like us to think it doesn't, it actually does. In the last 10 years, the Steelers have had winning seasons in 6 of the 7 seasons they won at least 2 preseason games. Additionally, in the 3 years they had losing preseason records, they have finished 6-10, 6-10, and 8-8.

There we have it. The numbers don't lie. Winning breeds winning. And with the Steelers sitting at 3-1 on the eve of their last preseason matchup against Carolina, I'm feeling pretty good about this season.