PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers Mason Cole said he was rooting hard for the teams playing division opponents on Sunday, but none came through. He said the division is fun, it’s challenging.
Gutting out and grimy wins are part of the DNA of the AFC North right now. But who is really looking like they are in the best spot to win it roughly a third of the way through the season?
Positives, negatives and the remaining teams on the schedule of the four teams in the division.
Baltimore (1st place, 4-2)
Positives
· Lamar Jackson is a former league MVP and healthy
· 2nd in the AFC with 869 rushing yards
· 3rd in the NFL in rushing touchdowns
· Defense has 22 sacks, 33 tackles for loss
· Justin Tucker—missed 2 FG, one from 59 yards and the other from 61 yards
· Tied for NFL lead with only 4 TD passes allowed
Negatives
· Three touchdowns in their last 28 possessions
· They’ve emphasized the pass, but same number of TD passes as the Steelers playing one more game
· Blew 4th quarter leads in both losses
· Both losses are in the AFC
Remaining schedule (this week hosting the Lions)
· HOME-Detroit, Seattle, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Rams, Miami, Steelers (currently not one team with a losing record)
· AWAY-Arizona, Chargers, Jacksonville, San Francisco (only Arizona with a losing record)
Steelers (tied for 2nd place, 3-2)
Positives
· Potentially getting 4 offensive starters and leading kick returner back from injury
· Least penalized team in NFL, only 4.4 per game
· Plus 5 in turnover margin
· TJ Watt leads NFL in sacks
· 2-0 in division
Negatives
· Allowing 4.8 per rush, 389 yards per game
· 31st in NFL in passing yards
· 30th in total offense and points per game
· 2nd worst in AFC in completion percentage
· Kenny Pickett is 28th in QB rating
Remaining Schedule (at the Rams this week)
HOME-Jacksonville, Tennessee, Green Bay, Arizona, New England, Cincinnati (only one team currently with a winning record)
AWAY-Rams, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Seattle, Baltimore (no road teams currently with a losing record)
Cleveland (tied for 2nd place, 3-2)
Positives
· Leads NFL in passing yards allowed by 236 yards
· Tied for NFL lead allowing 4 TD passes
· 1st in AFC with 395 rushing yards allowed, QBR against
· 1st in NFL allowing only 15 of 65 3rd down conversions
Negatives
· Unsure quarterback situation with Deshaun Watson
· Last in NFL in passing yards
· 3rd worst in NFL with 3 passing TD
· Only 8 touchdowns this season
· 2 AFC North losses
Remaining Schedule (at Indianapolis this Sunday)
HOME-Arizona, Steelers, Jacksonville, Chicago, Jets (only 2 currently with a winning record)
AWAY-Colts, Seattle, Baltimore, Denver, Rams, Houston, Cincinnati (only 2 currently with a winning record)
Cincinnati (last place, 3-3)
Positives
· Finding ways to win after 1-3 start
· Ja’Marr Chase leads NFL in receptions
· Joe Burrow has 5 of his 7 passing TDs in the last 2 games
· 1st in the AFC with 8 interceptions
Negatives
· 2 AFC North losses (3 AFC losses)
· 2nd worst in AFC with 419 rushing yards
· Last in total offense
· Allow 5 yards a rushing attempt
· 1 rushing TD, 1 rushing play of 20 yards or more
· Joe Burrow passer rating is below Gardner Minshew, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Dobbs, Desmond Ridder
Schedule (at San Francisco this week)
HOME-Buffalo, Houston, Steelers, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Cleveland (only 1 currently with a losing record)
Every team can make a claim it has underachieved to this point, but looking at the schedule, that’s where it might separate. In the last 12 weeks of the regular season, the Ravens and Bengals face ONE team each that currently has a losing record. The Steelers, while challenged on the road, only play one home game against a team currently with a winning record. Only FOUR of the Browns remaining dozen opponents currently have a winning record. A huge advantage for Cleveland, not to mention their relentless defense.
“For sure, it’s coming up on big football,” said Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth. “We have to continue to win games. If the rest of the North is winning, we have to win as well.”
