The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-1 following the first month of the 2025 NFL season. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers' offense led the team to a thrilling victory in Week 1 against the New York Jets, as Rodgers was able to throw for a total of 244 yards along with four touchdowns. The veteran has struggled to keep up with that same efficiency since the matchup against his former team, but Pittsburgh finds themselves standing alone at the top of the AFC North nonetheless.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The Cincinnati Bengals currently sit in second place in the AFC North with a record of 2-2. Joe Burrow's injury was a brutal blow to the Bengals' offense as the unit is expected to be without their superstar quarterback for a large portion of the year. The Baltimore Ravens have struggled to begin the year as well, as Baltimore has just one win throughout the first four weeks of the season.
Steelers insider Mark Kaboly recently took a moment to share his thoughts on the current state of the AFC North, as the insider claims the Steelers are currently in the best scenario that they could possibly be in.
"Well, they can't be in a better position than they are in right now," Kaboly stated. "Obviously, they are 3-1 and a game up on the Bengals, the Ravens look like a disaster right now, so you couldn't have scripted this any better right now."
Kaboly continued to talk about the Ravens and superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson.
"I'm not sure if I'm ready to put the old nail in the coffin for the Ravens quite yet, even if Jackson is out for a week, two weeks," Kaboly admitted.
Both Burrow and Jackson are two of the best quarterbacks in football. Losing players of that caliber for a long period of time could quickly change the course of a team's season, as both quarterbacks are nothing short of elite and absolute game changers. Pittsburgh will face both the Bengals and Ravens twice this year as all four matchups will absolutely play crucial roles in the race for the AFC North title.
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Bengals' Joe Burrow (9) and Ravens' Lamar Jackson (8) after a game in Cincinnati, OH.
The Steelers will control their own destiny moving forward. Pittsburgh will clash with the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 as the team will look to create further separation within the division. The Browns currently find themselves at the bottom of the rankings and are not expected to be true competitors in 2025, but Rodgers and the rest of the Steelers' offense will still be faced with a significant test as the legendary quarterback will look to avoid Myles Garrett at all costs.
Steelers Could Thrive Against AFC North Rivals In Back To Back Weeks
As mentioned, the Steelers will face the Browns in Week 6, followed by a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Bengals in Week 7. Pittsburgh will play the Browns fresh off of the bye week, as the team will look to recover and get as healthy as possible prior to the matchup against their division rivals. Cleveland is expected to start rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel during the Week 6 contest as the Steelers' defense could very well find themselves in prime position for a huge game.
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Steelers' Week 6 opponent and Browns' quarterback Dillon Gabriel after the Senior Bowl in 2025.
The Bengals are expected to start Jake Browning against the Steelers in Week 7 following Burrow's injury. Browning has struggled immensely since stepping in as the starting quarterback and could continue to underperform against Pittsburgh's elite defense. Back to back win's against division rivals in Week 6 and 7 would be massive for the Steelers moving forward, as the team will look to use the bye week as a crucial recovery period.
Kaboly's comments surrounding the current state of the AFC North are not surprising. Pittsburgh will truly control their own destiny moving forward, as victories against the Browns and Bengals in Weeks 6 and 7 would prove to play a massive role in the standings.
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