The battle for the North has begun, and it’s going to be a bloodbath.
The Baltimore Ravens absolutely trampled the Broncos and are now tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the top of the AFC North. The Cincinnati Bengals were able to beat the Las Vegas Raiders and are trying to make a case for the division as well.
The good news is the Steelers are still tied for first after their bye week and have the chance to take a commanding lead. The other good news is the Steelers will play the struggling Cleveland Browns twice by December 8th, both games should be easy divisional wins, should be.
The bad news is the Steelers play the Washington Commanders next week. For the first time in a long time the Commanders are a real threat, and if the Steelers can’t pull out a win in Washington, they could be looking at being a game back behind the Ravens by the following week. The Ravens will play the Bengals next week and if that games goes anything like their first meeting this season, the Ravens should be 7-3 going into week 11.
Week 11 will be when the fun really begins for the AFC North, and the Steelers. The Ravens will make their way to the ‘Burgh where they will hopefully face off against the 7-2 Steelers. This to me is realistically the best case scenario. I don’t see the Ravens falling to the Bengals but just for fun, let’s run the possibilities.
Week 10 Ravens lose to the Bengals, Steelers beat the Commanders:
Steelers 7-2
Ravens 6-4
Bengals 5-5
Worst case for the Steelers, Ravens win, Steelers lose in week 10:
Ravens 7-3
Steelers 6-3
Bengals 4-6
Again, the Steelers and Ravens could both win next week setting up a tie game to determine the AFC North leader. As if the rivalry isn’t already heated, this could make for some very entertaining football come week 11. Furthermore, if both the Steelers and Ravens lose, not only will it be close between them for the top spot in the division, but the Bengals would be in the running at 5-5 right behind the 6-4 Ravens and 6-3 Steelers.
I know this is a lot of speculation, but it may be one of the best division battles in the NFL this year between an already fired up AFC North rivals.
Next week is a very pivotal week for the AFC North and there will be a lot of divisional games moving forward, especially for the Steelers. I believe even if the worst case scenario pans out for the Steelers leading up to week 11, there is still a good shot for them at the division.
If the Browns can’t get their act together that should be two easy divisional wins for the Steelers in weeks 12 and 14.
As I mentioned before, this could all come down to week 16 for the Steelers and Ravens to take the division. This would be absolutely perfect for the NFL if it pans out this way. Imagine, Sunday afternoon on December 21st, Steelers make their way into a hostile M&T Bank Stadium. Division on the line, the AFC North’s biggest rivals face off for supremacy.
There are hundreds of possibilities between now and then, but as a lifelong Steeler fan I know one thing for certain, I haven’t been this excited in a long time.
