Behind the Steel Curtain
It’s a little early to talk about division standings, no? But the way the AFC North has fallen in recent weeks shouldn’t be ignored. It’s not what most expected, and it’s good news for Steelers fans.
Following Monday Night Football, the standings are as follows:
Yup, that’s the highly-touted Ravens at the bottom of the pack, and the Steelers in sole possession of first place. A quarter into the season, Pittsburgh is in a great spot.
The question is phrased as “will” not “can” as the latter is obviously true — of course the team at the top of the standings has a good shot at winning the division crown.
But will they? For now, I’m holding firm to my preseason take that the Steelers will finish second in the AFC North. Pittsburgh’s division lead over the Ravens looks impressive right now, but it doesn’t take much over the 13 regular season games remaining for things to change.
But the Bengals? Following Joe Burrow’s injury they don’t look like a major threat. And the Browns remain in contention for the first overall pick even if their defense has teeth.
But the Ravens still have Lamar Jackson, even if his hamstring injury results in some lost time. Injuries and disappointing play are mounting up on defense — Baltimore is currently bottom two in the NFL in both points and yards allowed per game — but the Ravens showed they can bounce back from defensive woes last season. And on the other side of the ball, the Baltimore running game has had Pittsburgh’s number for two straight matchups.
There’s no denying that the Ravens’ recent underperformance, and the Steelers’ overperformance — at least, compared to preseason expectations — means the division is certainly up for grabs. But around a quarter into the season, I’m not quite ready to upend one of my more reasonable predictions. Remember, the Steelers held the AFC North lead late last season but were eventually overtaken down the stretch.
Still, entering the bye at 3-1, it’s been a great week for the Steelers’ AFC North hopes.
What are your thoughts on the Steelers’ AFC North chances? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments!
