Steelers Face Alarming Reality As Bengals Get NFL's Easiest Remaining Schedule

The Pittsburgh Steelers were dormant at the NFL's trade deadline as the team is entering the second half of the season without making any real moves. The Steelers were reportedly involved in some trade talks around the league in search of a wide receiver, but nothing came to fruition as Pittsburgh tried not to be too aggressive. Pittsburgh could really use some help in the second half of the year as a few other top teams in the AFC made meaningful moves, but the Steelers chose to stand pat. Their second half schedule kicks off with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10 on Sunday Night Football.

The Steelers and the Bengals are each at the top of the AFC North heading into this game as each team has a record of 6-2. The Steelers are in first place due to Pittsburgh winning its first matchup with Cincinnati. Whoever wins this game on Sunday night will be in first place for the time being, and the outcome of this matchup could very well decide the winner of the AFC North down the line. A sweep over Cincinnati would obviously be huge for Pittsburgh, but the Bengals' schedule could be a cake walk on their way to winning the division and potentially taking the one seed.

Beat writer Ray Fittipaldo joined 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday and he spoke about the potential outcomes of this game and what they could mean for the remainder of the season, especially if the Bengals are able to take down the Steelers and avoid the season sweep.

"I saw on X yesterday the Bengals have the easiest schedule in the NFL for the rest of the season," Fittipaldo said. "The Steelers weren't in the top five. The Steelers' schedule is much more difficult. If you remember, under [Mike] Tomlin, this series was always kind of backwards. Pittsburgh had no problem walking into Cincinnati and winning. Vice versa. Steelers got it at home, you know the Bengals believe, if they win this game, they are going to feel like they are in the driver's seat. Split with the Steelers and then they have that easy schedule."

This game very well could decide the AFC North with both the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens sort of bottoming out. However, the remainder of the schedule for Cincinnati is going to play just as much of a role in them potentially winning the AFC North.

The Bengals are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, at least on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Joe Burrow is playing like an MVP candidate and the wide receiver duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins has been the best in the league by far. There is certainly a world where that offense is able to blow Pittsburgh out on Sunday.

This important thing to note is the rest of schedule for Cincinnati. It is the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL with their hardest remaining game coming at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. This would allow Cincinnati a relatively easy path towards 14-3, especially if they win on Sunday against Pittsburgh.

Steelers And Bengals Are Both Primed To Make The Playoffs

The rest of the AFC has not looked great through the first nine weeks of the 2026 season, and that is evident from the gap between the current seventh seed and the rest of the AFC that is not currently in the playoff picture. The Bengals and Steelers are each set up well with records of 6-2, and as long as things do not fall apart for either team, each should be playing meaningful football in January. 

This game on Sunday isn't the last chance for the Steelers to cement themselves as the leaders in the North, but there's a good chance the division lead will be hard to grab back if Pittsburgh loses.

What do you think about the remaining schedule for the Bengals? Will the Steelers be able to find a way to win the AFC North? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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