Who’s the Biggest Threat to the Steelers in the AFC North?
The 2025 NFL season is just a few months away, and the sports world could not be more ready. As we gear up for 18 more weeks of incredible football, let’s take a look at one of the most intriguing teams around the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the recent signing of Aaron Rodgers, the replacement of George Pickens with D.K. Metcalf, and the standing holdout by T.J. Watt, the Steelers have a lot of eyes on them entering the season, with many question marks. Who is the biggest divisional threat to Pittsburgh, and what do they need to clinch a playoff spot?
The Browns are still figuring out what they want the team’s future to look like. The quarterback position is the most uncertain of them all, with four quarterbacks competing for the starting role. Last season, Cleveland’s rotating QB room combined for only 19 touchdowns and led the league with 23 interceptions. With neither the QB nor receiver positions having been fixed, the Browns are not the team to worry about.
After making back-to-back conference championship games, including the Super Bowl loss in 2022, Joe Burrow and the Bengals have struggled to put together a championship-contending team or a playoff-contending team. The problem lies not with Burrow and the offense, who have excelled, but with the defense, or lack thereof. Cincinnati lost numerous games last season by one possession, simply because the other team had the ball last. After spending three of their first four draft picks this year on defensive players and firing their defensive coordinator, the Bengals are looking to flip the script with their defense. If they’re able to hold it together, watch out for Burrow and the Bengals to make a big run.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are coming off yet another stellar season that simply fell short, after a devastating loss to the Bills in the divisional round. However, they are the obvious threat in the AFC North. As long as Jackson remains the quarterback in Baltimore, they will be considered contenders, as he’s proved himself to be one of the league’s top QBs and one of the most versatile players the NFL has ever seen. The Ravens are looking to squash Rodgers and the Steelers and win the division for the third year in a row.
With all of that being said, here is what we can conclude about expectations for the Steelers: The Browns, while currently stuck, have potential and it will be exciting to see in their future, but are not considered a major threat at the moment. The Bengals and Ravens are the two big threats in the AFC North, with Burrow leading Ja'Marr Chase to a triple crown season, and Jackson once again showing off his legs and playmaking abilities. Although Cincinnati's defense simply holds too many question marks, it’s safe to say the Ravens are the team to beat in the North. With a developing offensive line, a sure-fire defense, and numerous offensive weapons, the Steelers are looking to dethrone the Ravens and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Pittsburgh for the seventh time in franchise history.
