The Pittsburgh Steelers have not had a pretty start to the 2025 season, but the group is 3-1 as it heads into its bye week and is currently leading the division in the AFC North, while also being third in the conference as a whole. The defense started off the season rocky, but the unit has slowly been finding itself over the last two weeks or so. In addition to the team playing better and seeming to be getting more comfortable, the rest of the AFC North is completely falling apart.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh meet near midfield to shake hands after a professional football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns are currently at the bottom of the AFC North as both teams have a record of 1-3. The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-2, but have lost their last two games by a combined score of 76-13 and Joe Burrow is expected to be out for a significant amount of time. Lamar Jackson is also a bit banged up for Baltimore, as are some key pieces of the Ravens' defense. Former Ravens defensive lineman Chris Canty recently spoke about Pittsburgh on his radio show Unsportsmanlike on ESPN, and he has high hopes for Pittsburgh with the way the division currently looks.
"They should be 6-0 in the AFC North," Canty said. "Think about it, coming into this year, you would've given them four losses with the two games against the Bengals, the two games against the Ravens based on how those two teams looked off of the offseasons that they had. Now I'm willing to concede those games to the Pittsburgh Steelers. I get that they haven't played a division opponent yet, but it's setting up for them to dominate division competition, which never happens in the AFC North. That is my expectation for the Pittsburgh Steelers right now, based on everything that's happening with the Ravens, based on how the Bengals, based on the state of affairs with the Cleveland Browns."
Pittsburgh has not kicked off in-division play quite yet, but the group has to be fairly confident going into it. The Steelers will take on the Browns in Week 6 and the Bengals in Week 7, which works out for Pittsburgh as it has its bye week in Week 5 after playing a game in Ireland. This gives the Steelers time to get healthy and build on all the good things from the first part of the season.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during a game against the Browns in Week 12 of the 2024 season.
This is some added pressure for the Steelers to win the AFC North. Going into the 2025 season, many fans probably thought the team's only path to the playoffs was by clinching a Wild Card spot, but Pittsburgh has a legitimate path towards winning the division and hosting a playoff game. This adds some pressure for Head Coach Mike Tomlin, which Canty touched on.
"There is no excuse for Mike Tomlin and that team not to win the division," Canty said. "And if they win that division, then there are going to be expectations once they get into the tournament."
Expectations have changed for the Steelers with how the start of the 2025 season has begun. The city of Pittsburgh wants to host a playoff game, and there is a clear path to do so as long as the team takes care of business.
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson stands on the field as his team warms up prior to a professional football game on the road.
Steelers Winning AFC North Won't Be A Cake Walk
The Ravens may have a 1-3 record, but they are still one of the teams in the NFL that is capable of winning the Super Bowl. They also lost all three of their games to very competitive teams, and there is certainly a world where Baltimore can go on a winning streak and regain the lead in the division. The injuries are rough for the Ravens, and the defense has struggled, but that team should never be counted out.
What do you think about Canty's thoughts on the AFC North? Let us know in the comments below!
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