Why the Steelers Have a Real Chance to Win the AFC North
Seven weeks into the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers sit at 5-2, tied atop the AFC North with the Cleveland Browns. Though they rank second due to the head-to-head tiebreaker, this team — written off by many analysts before the season as too old, too slow, and too dependent on Aaron Rodgers — is proving it’s not just making up the numbers. The Steelers are legitimate division title contenders, and here’s why.
1. The offense has finally found balance
For years, Pittsburgh’s offense lived and died by the passing game. Not anymore. The running back duo of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle has become a nightmare for opposing defenses. In the Week 7 win over the Saints, the two combined for 187 yards on the ground. Warren’s burst and Dowdle’s between-the-tackles durability complement each other perfectly, allowing the Steelers to close out games on the ground and bleed the clock. In a division built on physicality and bad weather, that ability to run the ball when everyone in the stadium knows you’re running it is the foundation of everything.
2. The defense is elite where it matters
Against New Orleans, Pittsburgh’s front seven held the Saints to 18 rushing yards on 17 carries. That wasn’t an outlier — it was a statement. The Steelers’ run defense has been among the league’s best all season, and in the AFC North, stopping the run is non-negotiable. Cincinnati wants to spread you out, Cleveland wants to pound you, and Baltimore will do both. Pittsburgh’s defensive line, led by a rotating cast of interior disruptors, has consistently won at the point of attack, forcing opponents into third-and-long situations where T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith can pin their ears back.
3. Aaron Rodgers is managing games, not losing them
The version of Rodgers the Steelers are getting isn’t the MVP version — and that’s fine. He’s completing a high percentage of short and intermediate throws, protecting the football, and letting the running game and defense carry the load. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is among the best in the conference, and he’s been at his best in the fourth quarter. In a division where three teams are separated by a game or less, a quarterback who doesn’t turn the ball over is worth his weight in gold.
4. The schedule sets up favorably
Pittsburgh’s remaining slate is manageable. They still have both games against Cincinnati, a team with a porous defense and an inconsistent offensive line. They get Cleveland at home in December, where the weather favors their run-first identity. The toughest stretch is a late-season trip to Baltimore, but by then the division could already be decided. Compare that to the Browns, who still face a gauntlet of AFC contenders, and the Bengals, who have to play catch-up after a slow start — and the path is there for the taking.
5. The division is wide open
Baltimore was supposed to run away with the North. Instead, the Ravens have shown cracks — an inconsistent secondary, questionable late-game coaching, and a reliance on Lamar Jackson that feels unsustainable. Cleveland is tough but limited offensively. Cincinnati’s defense remains a liability. Nobody in this division is a juggernaut. The Steelers don’t need to be great — they need to be the most consistent team in a flawed division, and so far, they have been.
6. Mike Tomlin’s teams don’t fold
Tomlin has never had a losing season in Pittsburgh, and this team reflects his identity: disciplined, physical, and resilient. The Steelers have already won close games, come from behind, and protected leads. They don’t beat themselves. In a division race that will likely come down to one or two games, a team that avoids self-inflicted wounds has a massive advantage.
7. The intangibles matter
This is a veteran team with something to prove. Rodgers has a chip on his shoulder after the way things ended in New York. Watt is chasing a championship. The locker room believes it’s better than the outside noise suggests. That kind of edge matters in December, when the games get colder and the stakes get higher.
The verdict
The Steelers aren’t the most talented team in the AFC North on paper. But they’re balanced, disciplined, well-coached, and built for the kind of football that wins in this division. If the run game holds up, the defense keeps dominating the line of scrimmage, and Rodgers keeps playing clean football, Pittsburgh has every chance to win the North — and nobody should be surprised if they do.
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