Things have certainly turned around in Pittsburgh. During the first month of the season, there was a lot of concern and frustration surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers. After starting the season with a 1-2-1 record, the Steelers have ripped off five straight wins. That includes wins over each of their division rivals and an incredible 52-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers last week. While the road ahead still has some challenges, the Steelers could wrap up the AFC North division as early as next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
AFC North Can Be Decided as Early as Week 11
The Offense Is Firing on All Cylinders
To quote Antonio Brown, “business is boomin’.” The offense is ranked in the top five in the league in just about every major offensive category except rushing yards per game. Even there they average more than 100 yards per game. Ben Roethlisberger is doing Big Ben things as he ranks in the top five in total yards, yards per game, and touchdowns. James Conner is in the top five in rushing yards, yards per game, and touchdowns. Conner also is averaging nearly five yards per carry. He’s putting up numbers that are as good and even better than the All-Pro he is replacing, Le’Veon Bell.
Both Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster rank in the top 20 in yards, yards per game, and receptions. Brown also leads the league in touchdowns with 10 scores. Vance McDonald and Jesse James are both ranked in the top 20 in yards, yards per game, and receptions among tight ends as well. All of that was put on display as the Steelers offense blew away a solid Panthers defense. The Steelers scored on seven drives, six of those for touchdowns. It was only after they pulled the starters did the Panthers defense stop the offensive showcase the Steelers put on.
The Defense Keeps Improving
Speaking of defenses, the Steelers defense has improved dramatically since the first month of the season. During that first month, Pittsburgh was ranked among the worst five defenses in the whole league. They were giving up big plays deep in the passing game. They were struggling to stop the run and pressure quarterbacks. Under no circumstances was anyone comparing them to the Steel Curtain days of old. But as the season has gone on the defensive unit has grown by leaps and bounds.
The defense is now ranked in the top 10 in total defense, including in the top five in rushing defense. The defense concedes around 23 points per game and the pass defense has climbed to 18th in the league. While those numbers don’t look impressive, consider that early on, the pass defense was one of the worst in the league. The offense was barely scoring more than the defense could stop. You can just look here to see just how bad things were in the first month. During their current five-game win streak, the Steelers have not allowed teams to score more than 21 points. The defense is continuing to improve and make the Steelers a more complete team.
The Road Ahead
The team is coming together just as the tough part of the schedule is coming up. There are still big games ahead that include traveling to the Superdome for a matchup against the high-octane New Orleans Saints. Pittsburgh will host the New England Patriots, which could determine a first-round bye in the playoffs. They will also host a tough Los Angeles Chargers team that has only lost to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams. The remaining four games include traveling to the Jaguars, Denver Broncos, and the Oakland Raiders and hosting the Cincinnati Bengals. None of those teams are playing particularly well and are all very winnable for the Steelers.
Conclusion
The Steelers have improved a lot this season. Riding a five-game winning streak, the offense is firing on all cylinders and the defense is getting stronger as the season wears on. There are still games to be played, but the AFC North could be wrapped up as early as next week. The Steelers travel to face a very inconsistent Jaguars team. Meanwhile, the Bengals travel to take on the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals will have a new defensive coordinator and Baltimore will likely be starting Lamar Jackson in place of the injured Joe Flacco. A win by the Steelers and a Bengals loss would give Pittsburgh a three-game lead in the AFC North. That would all but clinch the division for Pittsburgh. Don’t look now, but the Pittsburgh Steelers could win the AFC North when all is said and done in Week 11.
