Trouble In Paradise As Steelers' AFC North Rival Faces Big Uphill Climb Due To Unfortunate Injuries

The Pittsburgh Steelers don't necessarily having a commanding lead in the AFC North through four weeks of the NFL's 2025 regular season, but it surely feels like it. Entering a Week 5 bye after a massive win overseas against the Minnesota Vikings, Mike Tomlin's bunch has some time to get healthy and prepare for a Week 6 bout versus the Cleveland Browns, which will be the first divisional matchup of the year for Pittsburgh. It will be crucial to not drop games to inferior teams, and with a very questionable quarterback situation in Cleveland, the Steelers will certainly be the favorite in the contest.

There weren't very high expectations for the Browns entering the campaign, but the same can't be said for the Baltimore Ravens. General Manager Eric DeCosta put together another strong roster during the offseason and Head Coach John Harbaugh is one of the league's best. Unfortunately, things aren't going as planned and the preseason AFC North favorite is sitting at 1-3.

Injuries are a part of any given year for all teams competing at the professional level, but there's something to be said about what is going on in Baltimore. It is currently an absolute disaster, with Lamar Jackson highlighting several names that are on the injury report.

To have a total of 14 players listed on the Thursday before an important AFC matchup against the Houston Texans is certainly concerning. What's even more troubling for the Ravens is that following a game versus the Texans, the team will have to play the Los Angeles Rams prior to a Week 7 bye. That break is much needed, but Baltimore could be staring at 1-5 right in the face due to a plethora of key injuries.

Steelers fans learned in 2024 that anything can happen as the season rolls along, as Pittsburgh was 10-3 and in clear control of the AFC North a season ago until an epic December collapse. That led to the Ravens winning the division. There is a world in which Baltimore starts at 1-5; however, and that would ultimately lead to the Steelers leapfrogging them as the favorite within the division.

Without Joe Burrow in the Cincinnati Bengals' picture for at least three months, all Tomlin and co. need to do is avoid bad losses moving forward. The schedule gets tougher as the weeks progress, but a 3-1 start is now looking like it put the Steelers in the perfect position to capture their first divisional crown since the 2020 campaign. That would also lead to a home playoff game for the first time in several years.

Fans are never going to root for several players on the roster of a rival to get injured, but that is currently the reality in Baltimore. It seems as if the Ravens have had several unlucky breaks in recent years, but 2025 feels different. Missing guys like Jackson, Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith at a crucial point in the season is a recipe for disaster.

Steelers Enter Big AFC North Stretch After Bye Week

Pittsburgh will undoubtedly be the favorite against both the Browns in Week 6 and Bengals in Week 7. The key will be taking care of business and not only improving to 5-1, but also starting with a record of 2-0 in the division. If Tomlin's unit can accomplish that, it will be in a phenomenal position entering what is likely the most important stretch of the 2025 campaign.

Do you think that the Steelers' divisional rival in the Ravens are going to start the year with a record of 1-5? Let us know in the comments below!

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